Honestly, Ruby had spent very little time at the shores of Beacon Academy. It wasn't that she wasn't aware that they were here, it was just… not as important as the Emerald Forest or the Bullhead launch site or the training grounds or the high docks or… anywhere else really. In fact, she didn't even really know what the beach was actually still here. She never, really never, saw anyone come down here for a tan or anything, and it wasn't large enough for a party site or anything, despite what Yang might want to joke about.
Then again, it still was a sandy beach that emptied out into the bay, the same bay that was shared way across the ways with the rest of Vale. Sure, there weren't a lot of ships in the small river, bay, lake thing that separated them, but it still had some cargo ships, and she understood why. Because ships could run without power or Dust, and certainly for a lot greater efficiency than a Bullhead, at least under the same operating times.
Still, and again, Ruby had never seen any kinds of deliveries come into Beacon through the beach front, making everything about it… kind of off. Namely just what was there and what wasn't there.
She wasn't surprised that here was a dock that went out into the bay, if it really was a bay she still wasn't sure. That was normal for any kind of beach. At least she'd never been to one that didn't have one. It was just that it didn't seem to go out too far, like only small oats like her dad's fishing ship could fit it, but not nearly anything from the Military for transport!
And that wasn't even to bring up just how little sand there was! Sure, it probably wasn't supposed to be used commercially, if that was the right term for it, but it still didn't have enough to be considered a veritable beach. It barely made it fifty yards up from the coast line before it started turning into green grass, and that didn't account for all the bull head launching stations or balconies that were built up around it. Again, she didn't know if that was the right term or not, but balconies were supposed to give you a better view of something, right? So, the giant steel and concrete structures that were probably twenty meters high and with railings and bleachers had to be good for something.
Ruby shook her head, making her dark hair wave. She was thinking about something that didn't matter right now, at least not really. What did matter was why she was here. Or rather, why her team was here. Or, to be even more specific, why the better part of all of Beacon was here!
She could see just about everyone from the Combat Training Courses scattered around the balconies and bullhead launch platforms, if not standing higher up on the grassy hill, all looking down at the beach front. Some where obvious to see, like Weiss and bigger Weiss, Winter she reminded herself, standing at the edge of one of the balconies and given a bit of a berth. Probably because the bigger Weiss had some sort of Glyph up, probably. At least it looked like it, even if they were talking to one another a lot, which also seemed good. Better than ignoring or slapping one another.
She also didn't miss how Uncle Qrow was nearby them, or more like sitting on the edge of a railing and looking down at the beach himself. She could see him sneaking that canteen of his, and she kind of wished there was something dangerous in, just so she had an excuse to shoot it out of his hand. Then again, if anyone could take that stuff, it was probably her uncle, especially with the way he was grinning down as his feet dangled.
Ruby didn't have to look for Blake or Yang, both of her teammates who weren't hanging out with visiting family, not that they had any left to visit, nearby. Yang, thank Dust and Hunters, wasn't wearing the Bunny Cap. They really didn't need to explain that to everyone. Then again… Blake was wearing the magic cape, or at least partly wearing it over her shoulder. She was kind of attached to it, not that Ruby had seen Weiss put down the book she had.
She could see team CRDL, or making it was CRDP now, whatever that came out to mean. She recognized them because it was really hard to miss Tatl and Tael floating around them! That would have been weird, if she didn't almost immediately see Moraine standing on Cardin's shoulders to look above everyone else. And standing meant literally standing. She really hoped she was wearing more underneath the tunic…
That wasn't even to include that she could see team SNNN, or at least she thought the other two boys with Sun and Neptune were their teammates, standing on the edge of the docks and far away from the beach. Neptune… didn't look happy. He was standing in the center of the docks at least. And she could see Dr. Oobleck by them as well, looking like he was ready to run into the center of the beach. Not that she could particularly blame him for it.
Because there was a fight about to start, one against Mikau and Link. And one being issued by team JNPR of all people.
The same team that Ruby knew went with Link to Monument Mine, or at least half of them did. Namely Jaune and Pyrrha, who were both talking at the center of the otherwise deserted beach. Jaune had the Mirror Shield that Link gave him still, because who would want to put down something that amazing, and the rest of JNPR were standing around and listening to him, at least she thought they were. She didn't have hearing like Blake or Link to be able to tell what they were saying. Speaking of…
"So, what's the word?" Yang asked Blake, probably milliseconds before Ruby could. She pouted, though not really, because Ruby didn't pout, but she still let her sister speak. "You can hear them, right Blakey?" Her big sis still had that same teasing grin. At least, Ruby realized, it wasn't being directed just at her this time.
"Don't call me that," their resident Shadow spoke, but about as forcefully as Ruby would deny a strawberry. "And it sounds like Jaune is giving reminders about where they're supposed to go when the battle starts. Pyrrha and him will take the front, Ren will try and flank… sort of obvious, but still worth repeating." Ruby agreed, she was sure, maybe.
"Is that smart though, speaking up about that kind of stuff?" Yang continued to ask. She threaded her hands behind her head, pushing her elbows out. Ruby realized why she did that when people started to move out of the way. No one wanted to tell her sister to stop something. Probably pretty smart. "I mean the open thing. Plans are good, no doubt, but right in the middle of where they are supposed to fight?"
"Is it because they didn't expect to be challenged here?" Ruby asked instead. "I mean, we don't know if they challenged one of Link's friends or the location so… maybe they're just going over where to move now that they know where they are fighting?" That seemed like something she would do, but Blake shook her head in response.
"No, that's not it," her dark-haired teammate responded. "The definitely chose to fight here, not the other way around." Ruby knew she could get distracted easily, but she was pretty sure that when Ms. Goodwitch said that they were fighting out here, she didn't say what Jaune's team challenged with.
"How'd you figure that one out?" Yang asked, again, over Ruby. How was she doing that? Was she still wearing the bunny hood? Was it invisible like Blake's cape could make her? "You get the scoop on something we didn't hear?"
"Something like that," Blake hinted, and Ruby was nanoseconds away from asking what that meant. "I just heard Pyrrha mentioning that it was good fortune that Ren and Jaune were right about where they would end up fighting. They probably assumed they would be fighting here because of who they challenged." Well that made sense, too.
And if it was fighting by the water, on a beach, where the water was closest to the field… and it sort of looked like one of those really ancient theatres that Weiss said the classrooms were modeled after… then maybe it was… oh! They were challenging-
"Mikau's the lucky one this time?" Ruby did pout this time, and she thought she was entitled. She didn't pout often, no matter what anyone said, but after this, she was allowed to! "Guess they didn't want to challenge the friends who helped kicked that Nightmare's butt. Don't' know if that's because they were just too strong or what, but it's not like they know a lot else about Mikau, not aside from what he told us way back when." Yang rocked her head back and forth, getting the rest of the students to move a little further away from them. Ruby held back her thanks, because she was still being interrupted.
But she at least knew why JNPR was challenging Mikau, or at least a good reason for why. At least why him and not Impa or Elrora or anyone else, especially Link himself. It had to do with what Weiss was talking about before, about-
"They chose him because they could at least predict where he would fight." When did she become slower than her teammates? Okay, she actually wasn't seeing as during their last training session Yang and Blake still couldn't touch her, but getting interrupted left and right sure didn't make her feel fast, or smart! "It is unlikely that they could have predicted where Elrora would challenge them, or Saria or Impa for that matter, and I don't believe Penny or Cardin described ay means to hurt Darmani. Mikau is the only viable candidate left to fight, and it sounds as if they have a strategy for him."
"Gotta be Nora, right?" Yang asked her teammate. Ruby didn't try this time. Instead, she just looked out over the crowd again, trying to see if she recognized anyone else. "Wanna charge her up and have her do some kind of blitz on them. That'd be my guess, cause no way lanky fish-boy Mikau is going to be able to take too hard a thrashing from her." Ruby knew she had a point, but she didn't bother to voice it.
No one really unexpected popped into Ruby's gaze, and she didn't feel like anything was wrong. Not wrong in the sense that her new Semblance ability was activating itself or something like that. No rather… the most she felt was just the same dread and discomfort she got from one of the last times they had seen Link fight.
"It got a hundred that Pyrrha goes down last!"
"I'll take that! I'll double it that Jaune goes down first!"
"No way, that's too obvious! Make it Ren and you got a deal!"
"How 'bout fifty that Link or whomever does 'em in in five minutes!"
"I'll give you ten times that JNPR actually wins, at all!"
"That's a loser's bet and I'm gonna take it to see you cry!"
That is the gambling.
"Are they still doing that?" Blake asked, getting Ruby's attention. She turned towards her teammate, seeing the golden eyes of the Faunus in hiding narrow as they gazed over the crowd, towards the taller balconies of the beach and the grassy knolls of the hills, just past the nearly unoccupied beach. "I would have thought they'd have grown up from that."
"What, after a week?" Yang asked as if it was a joke, but Ruby didn't think it was. Gambling on these fights just seemed wrong. "There's nothing wrong with it, just them risking their own cash for something they'll probably guess wrong. If you're smart, then you could even make a living off of it, right?" No, that wasn't wrong.
"Wrong, Yang," Blake responded first. "No means of supporting one's self should be just as viable to ruin you financially. Risky endeavors aside, no gambler can guarantee an income like a hunter or military official. And the things they are betting on… it's just juvenile." Good thing Blake agreed with her, Ruby realized.
"I'd argue that considering you gotta be eighteen plus to gamble, it's anything but!" Her grin, however, wasn't a good thing to see. And Ruby was starting to get annoyed by it. She could tell Blake was as well, seeing as they were both glaring at her stupid big sis. "Sides, not like it matters for now. The fight's getting started." Though brought Ruby up short.
"It's wha-?"
"Attention Beacon students and staff!" Ruby glanced down at the beach again, the same as Blake, to see Ms. Goodwitch standing with her Scroll in her hands. The rest of the crowd got silent almost immediately with her call, probably because they knew she could take them out… and she was kind of scary still. "We are nearly done with preparations and will soon begin the match. I ask everyone to step back as we prepare the ring for battle!"
How did Yang know that!? Was she actually wearing the freaking Bunny Cap? No wait, better question, what was the ring of… oh yeah, the ring, like the boundaries.
"Alright, ten paces back, stop and turn." Ruby heard someone joke, but she didn't know what the joke was. Or who said it. But she did feel the crowd begin to move back, everyone on the grass at least. They didn't have to go far, seeing as they had gotten the outcropping the balconies were built on. AT least, she was decently sure it was far enough. Far enough away that they couldn't even hear JNPR talking… then again there was a crowd.
Her mind moved away from that as she saw the familiar drones of Ms. Goodwitch start to fly around the air. She'd seen them before, when they went scouting into the Everfall Forest before. They were supposed to be scouts or… something else. Probably making sure that everyone was far back enough for a regulation ring, like the inside of Beacon. Made sense, and why she hadn't felt anything yet. Because everyone was safe, so no reason to feel anything for it.
"Hey, what's that?" Blake asked aside Ruby. She looked at her teammates, seeing her pointing towards the beach. Or, more specifically a portion of the sand that was really far away from where JNPR and Ms. Goodwitch were standing. Ruby didn't see anything at first. Not until she squinted really hard, looking at what was so important and once she did, she knew what it was. "Is that what I think it is?" But Ruby really did know, so she could tell her teammate!
"Oh! It's a-"
"Linear Proximity Sensor, right?" Ruby fought very hard to not tackle Yang to the ground, yet. "Saw those all over Patch, me and Rubes both. Lot of farmers got them so that they know when the Grimm are getting too close. Important to have when you don't have hunters everywhere around you." And of course, she was going to give the same explanation.
"I see, so Ms. Goodwitch is setting up a ring, and removing any argument that lines were crossed." Yeah… that would be a good use for them. "It does appear that it could work… but there is something still missing." Ruby looked at Blake, not really ready to try and answer anything, even a question. She didn't want to get interrupted again.
"Hmm? What's missing, Blakey?" Yang asked, twisting her head to swing her elbows at the same time. There were a few voices of annoyance, not that Yang paid any mind. Not that she ever did. "Those things don't need much to work. A good amount of Dust, something close by to talk to, and that's about it. You see something I don't?" Considering how much of a Shadow Blake was, Ruby didn't doubt it. She just wished her sister would stop acting like a Mage, predicting the future and all…
"No, not with the sensors, but with the fight itself." The fight, but that hadn't even started yet. "Or more specifically, why we are only seeing JNPR and Ms. Goodwitch down there still, even if the ring is being prepared." Only them… it took Ruby a solid second to figure out what she meant. There was someone missing and it was-
"Is anyone aware of where Mikau is?" MS. Goodwitch's question cut through her mind, only making her sigh now. The question itself, however, got a murmur out of the rest of the crowd, again. Not that she was too surprised.
"Yeah, where is Mikau?" Ruby thought nothing as she was interrupted internally again. She wasn't even surprised anymore, only disappointed. If this as going to be a theme, she didn't like it. "He's gotta step into the ring to start the fight, right? This ain't like when the collective of CFVY and those lucky volunteers fought Impa." Ruby's disappointment was replaced with embarrassment at the reminder of how hard she was trounced then… and for volunteering like that. "So, he's gotta show up first, right?"
"He should," Blake agreed, and Ruby did so too, silently, in her head. Because she wouldn't be able to talk at this rate. Not again at least. "Unless there is some new specification that we missed, but I don't recall there being one." Neither did Ruby, and she read every word of the emails that Ms. Goodwitch and Link sent out. Well, just Ms. Goodwitch sent them, but it was obvious that she was writing down what Link wanted, or something like that.
"Think he's going to show up soon then?" Yang questioned. "He better, cause the teacher being late just sets a bad example for us squires. And who would ever want to listen to a badass Hunter who's later for his own fights?" If it weren't for the sarcasm in her voice, probably just as deep as the bay just beyond the beach, Ruby would have shoved her sister. At least she believed she would have, if she didn't have something else, she was focusing on. Something else she didn't expect.
A feeling. A feeling in her Semblance, in her soul.
Her silver eyes widened as she followed it, looking at where her soul was guiding her, giving her that spark of panic that so often came with it. She told herself it couldn't be anything bad, no worse than her sister or Weiss trying to punch or stab her during training. It wasn't extreme, not bad, not here, but… but it did mean something was coming from…
"Look!" Ruby finally shouted, and no one interrupted her. Rather, they followed her line of sight, and looked out towards the shoreline and beyond. And it was only too obvious why a moment later.
Because it was kind of hard to miss the stream of water rushing up towards the beach!
The rest of the crowd started to notice as well, with everyone else pointing out what she had and talking about it. She'd finally gotten to talk and sure it was only one word but, hold on, that wasn't important right now! What was important was what it was, and she had a pretty good idea. In fact, everyone probably did.
Her feeling went away though, right after she saw the trail in the water dip down and vanish. That… was weird. In fact, too weird. So weird that she didn't know what that meant or how it even worked. One second there was a stream running through the water like a freaking engine was plowing through it and the next… it was gone. It just kind of vanished like it… submerged.
"5… 4…" Ruby heard Yang counting next to her. And counting down fast. Her feeling was gone, which was good, but she didn't know what it was there, which was bad. "3… 2…" And now her sister was counting like she knew something was about to happen and… and she had to have the Bunny Cap on now somehow! Not that she had any more time to ask. "1…"
SPLOOOOOSHSH!
Like a torpedo exploding, a column of water rushed up and shot into the air, making a good number of students cry out as they threw their hands up. Ruby included. That's why she felt something at least! Then again, that something was still huge! It was at least a dozen feet in the air, and that was awesome and cool! It was like a freaking pillar just shot up from the shore line!
She could hear SNNN freaking out in the docks, or maybe that was just Neptune. Probably because it had to look like a freaking tidal wave coming at them, and that had to be awesome! Well, because it wasn't actually a tidal wave or anything bad, or maybe that was why she felt something bad at first and then she didn't because whomever was responsible for the pillar knew someone was there, but that wasn't important! What was important was that SNNN were okay, if wet and one of the catatonic, and the thing that was responsible currently high above them.
Oh yeah, Ruby saw it. Following the top of the pillar of water, once Ruby realized that it was just water and she shouldn't care, no matter how many voices were complaining about it, she saw what she wanted to. And so, did everyone else.
Flipping through the air, and falling in a long arc, a blue-scaled Faunus descended towards the beach. Ruby watched, grinning even with damp hair and still some annoyance at her interrupting teammates, as the tall form of Mikau stood on the sandy beach, towering over JNPR and Ms. Goodwitch, just like she remembered him last time.
With that long grin spike on the back of his head, the short skirt of green to match, and shark teeth that seemed to shin with his smile, that was the Faunus alright, the one that she had cried over, and had told her he was happy. And he looked happy too, so she knew it was okay. Everything was okay.
"Mikau," Ms. Goodwitch spoke up, probably only able to be heard because everyone else quieted down. That was good, too. Only good things from here on out! "I'm glad to see you finally decided to show up. I was about to call the match in JNPR's favor due to your absence."
Whoa, she was!
"Whoa! You were?" Mikau, and maybe Link, spoke up with that same vibrating voice that Ruby remembered from last time. Still a cool voice, and hey! He had the same question she did! "Sorry about that. Got caught up stretching the dorsal fins through the graveyard down there. You gotta lotta ships hanging out underwater, you know that?" He was scratching the back of his smooth neck with his shark like grin on display.
Wait, hold on. They had what now?
"I am aware there are a fair number of derelict ships beneath the Vale Bay, yes," Ms. Goodwitch answered without missing a beat, not that Ruby had ever actually seen her miss anything like that before. "Your curiosity for them is well-understood, but entirely misplaced given the timing of the current event." She looked up at him and was probably glaring at him. Maybe, it was hard to see from so far away. At least she could hear them.
"Ms. Goodwitch is mad, huh."
"You think she was seriously gonna cancel the fight like that?"
"Would've been the easiest thousand Lien I'd ever make if she did!"
The rest of the crowd was still murmuring though, not that Ruby could really blame them. At least they weren't interrupting her like her teammates were earlier! Still, not important. What was important was the duel about to start and how Mikau was here! She hadn't seen him in so long and now he was back and was exploring the Vale Bay and he was going to be so awesome!
"Again, sorry about that seafoam," Mikau spoke up again, with that same voice and nickname he gave before. Ruby wondered if she'd get her own nickname, like coral maybe. Coral could be red, but seafoam was white and Ms. Goodwitch wore more gold… no, stop, not important! "Been too long since I got to swim like that, and you'd be goin' crazy if you saw a bunch of wrecked Gerudo crafts down there. More dragged away myself there weren't more fish ta see. Probably because there weren't any streams."
"The curiosity of marine life in Vale Bay can be answered another day." Once again, no chances missed. Ms. Goodwitch looked back down at her Scroll before she went on, touching on the Pad as she spoke. "For now, be glad that you arrived on time, but not a moment too soon." Too soon? Then what was all of that about almost having the match cancelled. That was… did that make sense?
"I said I was sorry, didn't mean ta lose track of the time. Can't exactly take those clocks of yours underwater, can I?" Maybe it did, because Mikau wasn't questioning it. And he did have a good point. At least Ruby couldn't see her Scroll surviving too well underneath the bay. "I'm here now though, so no more reason to dam up the stream." That was another weird metaphor, but at least she understood it.
"No, there is not," Ms. Goodwitch agreed. "And, unlike your near tardiness, the members of team JNPR are here and prepared to begin." Oh yeah, that was who Mikau was supposed to be facing, Ruby had almost forgotten… she hoped they never found that out.
Ruby watched though, with her team minus Weiss, as Mikau walked up the rest of JNPR, hands on his hips and standing above them. Like way above them, way too tall. She forgot how tall he actually was, but seeing that Jaune had to crane his next to look at him, yeah Mikau was tall. Was that a Zora thing? Maybe it had to do with being part fish, because there were a lot of water animals that were big like whales and squids and octopuses, but that wasn't important right now!
"So are all here," Mikau's voice let out again, looking down at them. Even if Ruby could hear them, it was kind of hard to make out if they were nervous or not. At least she could tell they were all looking up at him and… Nora was literally jumping. "Hope ya don't mind havin' a spar on the beach like this. Wouldda preferred the water itself, but I figured that it'd be like askin' the reefs to grow a different color." That metaphor… didn't make much sense.
"I-It's alright!" Jaune spoke up. Well, yelled, Ruby realized, but that was okay. Jaune was the team leader and he was getting better. "W-We were expecting something like this!" Ruby groaned at that. He was a good leader, even if he had room to go.
"He did not just admit that out loud," Blake scorned net to Ruby. She appeared no more pleased with what Jaune said than Ruby did… but at least Ruby forgave him.
"I-It was just a mistake," she returned for her friend and fellow leader. He couldn't be entirely at fault, seeing as he at least challenged Mikau and she'd lost without a challenge… oh yeah, she'd forgotten about that almost. "A-And maybe Mikau didn't notice?"
"Oh? You were thinkin' of fighting me here?" The Zora asked. Ruby lowered her head at the question. IF she wasn't being interrupted, she was being out right proven wrong… she wasn't' sure what was worse. And she did not want to experiment to find out. She didn't need her Semblance to know that was a bad thing. "Can I guess you were tryin' out a few different sets then? Thinkin' of where the waves were gonna splash maybe? Figure out how to get the tide on your side?" What was he even asking?
"We are prepared to fight you, and that is all," Ren spoke up, coming to Jaune's rescue. Ruby knew she could count on him! Even if she didn't think he'd actually talk at all next to Nora and Jaune, but still! It was the thought that counted… even if she didn't have it. "We trust that you will not go easy on us."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Mikau responded, waving his hand. Was that webbed? It looked like it, even if the fingers were also really sharp. Being a Zora must have been really cool! "Sides, pretty sure if I did, I'd be in trouble. Had to read old currents to realize that you got a champion fighter on yer team, not to mention Link's old ace against magic." Okay, Ruby got who the champion was, especially with how Pyrrha sighed, but the ace against magic?"
"Is he talking about the Mirror Shield?" Yang asked now. Ruby had to agree. "Gotta be, seeing what they said it did against the Nightmare. And that's an ace… you think that's what he's concerned about?" That question got Ruby off guard.
"What do you mean?" She looked at Yang, her sis finally having put her arms down, not that anyone still wanted to get within arm's reach of her. She hit hard, even on accident. Gave the rest of them breathing room at least. "Concerned like he doesn't know what to do against it or… like it's a big deal for him?"
"I think more as in he believes that is the greatest tool JNPR has at their disposal." Blake's answer was calm, even if her eyes were focused down at the beach still. "As in, Ruby, that he believes that the Mirror Shield is his greatest concern, and there is little else for him to be careful of." Ruby thought about that for a moment, thought about what it meant.
Link was careful, and therefore Mikau was. At least she was pretty sure Link was careful, seeing as Tatl basically said he was making plans for them and everything, which sounded careful to here. And if he was there with Mikau, like Saria and Elrora kept hinting at, then it meant that he was probably going to think Jaune was the biggest threat with the shield, if Blake and Yang were right. But even if the shield was dangerous, just as much as it was awesome, didn't he have any concern about Nora? Maybe if… oh…
"Does… does he even know about Nora's ability?" Ruby found herself whispering. And true to the pattern of the day, she wasn't interrupted.
"I doubt it." But she was given a bad answer. "When would he have had the time to figure it out?" There wasn't any, at least not unless they had all their Semblance written down somewhere and Link had access to that and he studied it or something, but that probably didn't happen. That… and she kind of doubted Link would know how to work that kind of stuff…
"Guess we're going to find out soon enough." Yang spoke up and, this time, Ruby didn't think it was because she was secretly wearing the Bunny Hood somewhere.
This time she knew her sister was right because Ms. Goodwitch was turning around, at the same time Mikau was walking away. She didn't hear anything else they said, which was kind of bad, seeing as that was probably going to come up later, maybe. Then again, they could just as Jaune or Pyrrha or Ren or Nora or Link or… a lot of people actually. But that wasn't important right now. What was the duel!
"Spectators, please pay attention," Ms. Goodwitch called out, facing the crowd. Or at least the grassy portion of it, cause the balconies did kind of wrap around the beach, sort of. "The duel will commence between Mikau of the Zora, ally of Link, against the Beacon team designated as JNPR, consisting of Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, and Lie Ren." Ruby wasn't that surprised to see Mikau wave at the mention of his name, or the number of giggles that came from the crowd. She still didn't feel anything was off, which was good.
She did steal a glance towards Weiss and bigger Weiss though, to see that her partner was leaning over the railing quiet a lot. And her sister was doing the same. Both of them were, and… was Weiss smiling? Or was she biting her lips again? It was just like last time!
"The fight is the same per regulations," Ms. Goodwitch spoke on, even as JNPR prepared their equipment and Mikau kept… stretching. She knew Weiss was probably still enjoying the show, and her sister was as well… and she knew why. "All tools within the field of battle are usable for the duration of the fight and any outside interference will be seen as a penalty to the benefited team. For victory to be decided, all members of the opposing team must either reach critical Aura levels, be disarmed, or ejected from the field of battle." Okay, so nothing too different yet.
"They know tha rules already!" Ruby felt a sting of dread when she heard the voice call out… and was a little humiliated to see it came from her uncle. Her uncle still balancing on the edge of the balcony, and now holding a much larger flask with him. "Jus' hurry up and get on with tha' fight!" Yang groaned with Ruby. Hopefully no one would know they were related, for now at least.
"… With the terms of defeat and combat clear, are there any other questions?" Ruby wasn't sure if she was impressed, thankful, or just ready to worship the god that kept Ms. Goodwitch from saying something that would get her uncle in trouble… and then likely them as a consequence. That was how it usually went at least…
"I got one!" Mikau spoke up, with that vibrating voice. He had a hand in the air, even as he sported that same shark like grin. It really went well with the gills… and scales… and the muscles as well, especially with all the water… no bad thoughts! "You think he'd swim straighter if he was closer to his nieces?" Ruby's thoughts were shattered in a moment. "You wanna tell the guppy to cozy up to his family 'stead?"
So much for good luck…
"Perhaps," Ms. Goodwitch answered without hesitation, and that just made Ruby panic. Why couldn't he Semblance let her know if this was going to go badly! "But I would rather keep Qrow's fortune separate from his family. At least they act appropriately." That was a warning if Ruby ever heard one, and she'd gotten a lot from her dad and sister before.
"Be cool Rubes, stay calm," Yang whispered to her, and it was only after Ruby looked at her that she realized was very plainly trying to look anywhere else. At least she was nervous about Uncle Qrow being called out as their uncle now as Ruby was. Normally she didn't mind, but normally her uncle didn't make an embarrassing joke… okay he did that a lot, but not like this!
"Juuuuust curious," Mikau spoke back, and he leaned over to the side, like he was still stretching out. Ruby wasn't sure if he still was… but she was hopeful, just a bit, that it would stop there. "But nope, otherwise I'm good!" And he threw up a thumbs up, like out of a comic. At least he looked good with it, probably. Had to be the combination of teeth and physique. The height helped, probably.
"Excellent, and JNPR? Are you prepared as well?" It was a very by the books question, just like how Ruby knew Ms. Goodwitch would ask. Or more like Yang probably knew. Ruby just knew she wasn't getting any bad feelings which was great also.
"We're all set!" Jaune yelled out. Ruby grinned, realizing he was probably trying to make up for his slip up earlier. At least he realized he made a mistake, or maybe that was what his team had told him about when her team was telling her. Was that important? Sort of, more than not important at least. "Just… just need to know what to start!" Ms. Goodwitch nodded, and that was good too! Better than almost being called out by Uncle Qrow when he was being… super Uncle Qrow and not kick butt Uncle Qrow. That was the Uncle Qrow she wouldn't mind, not-
"Take your places, and we'll begin." This time Ruby was interrupted by something she didn't mind. That being Mikau and JNPR getting set up on opposite ends of the beach. Mikau was rolling his arms around, and Ruby had to remember what was in those arms, besides skin and scales and everything, else, but that wasn't important!
What was important was that he had those fins that he could extend out and throw, and they came back like boomerangs! She remembered him throwing those around when Dr. Oobleck first asked him to show himself and… and that was going to be a big part of this fight, she knew. It was going to be awesome, seeing him fight and using his electric shield against Pyrrha and her Polarity and figuring out about Nora and Ren dodging around him and shooting and Jaune… Jaune didn't…
"Jaune still doesn't have his sword, does he?" Ruby asked aloud, seeing her friend holding up just the Mirror Shield. Still a wickedly cool shield but… but it was just a shield, and shields weren't as effective at creating lacerations or even traumatic fractures. They were defensive and… that was it.
"Don't think so," Blake responded. And that was a bit more bad luck. "You think he's going to need it?" Well of course he… actually Ruby wasn't too sure.
She didn't have any bad feelings, but probably because nothing was close to happening bad yet. She also couldn't really see Jaune doing much with it, not against Pyrrha and Nora and being… well… far better at blocking attacks then giving them. So really, even thought Jaune was her friend, and he was really cool, maybe he didn't need his sword, maybe. Even if he was pretty broken up about losing it before.
She'd just have to wait and see. And she couldn't wait much longer.
"Are the fighters ready?" Ms. Goodwitch asked again, but this time, there wasn't a word from Mikau or JNPR. They just nodded their heads. All of JNPR holding up their weapons or shields, Mikau bent over and holding a stance like a karate fighter, and they were ready. Sure, Mikau was grinning more, and maybe that mattered, but it was just icing on the cake, or a cookie.
She didn't feel anything still, and she hoped she wouldn't, but Ruby was alright with waiting. This was going to be something special to see.
"Begin!"
Nora may not love fighting, but she loved to fight. Most people she said that to thought she was weird, but to hear it made absolute sense. She hated fighting but she loved to fight. That seemed to make perfect sense, like not liking to cook but loving to eat. That was normal!
She loved to fight because it gave her chance to show the world just how strong she was. The stronger she looked, the less the world bothered her. When she got even stronger than that, then they stopped bothering her friends as well! And she knew that being strong mattered, because all of her friends were at a school to make themselves stronger, even Renny! And what was better than being strong?
The only way to prove that you were strong, unfortunately, was to fight. And the harder you fought, and the better you fought, then the stronger you were. It was just that simple! So, Nora hated fighting, but she loved to fight. To her, that made perfect sense.
Funny enough, staring ahead across the beach, she was pretty sure there was someone else who thought the same way as her.
BANG! BANG!
Nora kept herself crouched as she watched from the side-lines, just like she was told to. Kept just out of the way by Jaune-Jaune, with Pyrrha and Renny up front and doing the fighting. That wasn't really where Renny was supposed to fight, but she trusted Jaune-Jaune, and so did Renny, so it was okay. Besides, he wasn't in any real danger. Even if she couldn't really recall a time that they had fought across a beach before, or against a fish, or against a lightning summoning Faunus, or in front of the entire school like this, she knew they were okay.
She knew it as she watched the Shark Man do a back flip over one of Pyrrha's swings, just in time for him to raise up on of his fin blades and block Ren from shooting at him. And he kept blocking Renny's attacks even as he kept spinning! It would have been so cool if he wasn't fighting Pyrrha and Ren! But he was, so it was only half-cool. Although, it was at least doubly cool how once his boots hit the sand, he spun around and threw one of his blades out like a boomerang. That was awesome!
Even if said boomerang flew right over Renny's head, making him duck and letting the Shark Man fight Pyrrha one on one for a bit. Even if Jaune-Jaune and her also couldn't do much, seeing as Jaune-Jaune didn't have anything to shoot with and she didn't want to blow Pyrrha up with her grenades. Sushi was great, but not deep-fried best friend!
But Nora still kept watching as Renny got himself back up, aiming his Storm Flower guns forward and watching the fight from a bit closer than Nora was. Watching as neither Pyrrha nor Shark Man were actually blocking anything, despite both of them having metal shields! They seriously were choosing to dodge every attack coming at them instead! Yeah, it was awesome, but shields were heavy and they weren't even using them!
Shark Man swung a kick with his really long leg, but Pyrrha rolled under and tried to stab up with Milo! But that only let the Shark Man, twist to the side, catching his Fin Blade back on his arm, however awesomely that worked, and then swinging it at Pyrrha! And then Pyrrha flipped around that by curling into a ball and flipping backwards, all the while none of them hitting one another. It would have been extra awesome if Shark Man was hit, but none of them were.
Instead, when Pyrrha landed with Milo outstretched and her legs crouched, just like her kick butt best friend always did in a fight, Nora watched as Shark Man folded his arms in front of him, making his Fin Blades shields again. Probably because Renny had his guns on him. Oh, and Pyrrha to, not that Nora saw her shoot often. Still, he had his shields, up… sort of. But that wasn't what Nora really noticed.
What she really noticed, because she didn't have much else to do but wait until what Jaune-Jaune said would happen happened, was something much cooler. Something that made her absolutely sure that Shark Man was just like her, or maybe Link was just like her, or some mix of the two, maybe two thirds or a quarter each.
The Shark man was smiling, and he was chuckling. He was having fun. The laughter was the giveaway. She loved to laugh when she fought, too.
Even as she watched him hop back and forth across the sand, probably moving like Pyrrha told Jaune-Jaune to do to not be a target, he was still watching them with those really blue eyes and really sharp teeth. Seriously, those could cut through steak no problem! But the Shark Man was smiling with them, and he was chuckling, she heard it! She knew she did!
"You both ain't half bad," the Shark Man spoke now, and he had that weird vibrating voice that Nora wasn't sure was awesome or creepy. Awepy was a good word for it! A Nora word! "You know how ta read a tide and rip through the current. Gotta have some skill to keep yer scales from bein' torn up on the reefs." That… Nora didn't understand.
"I'm glad we impress you… Sir Mikau," Pyrrha spoke. Well, Shark Man was a man, so sir seemed okay, maybe. Was it her turn to fight yet? "Though I do feel you are holding back against us. I'm sorry if my judgement is wrong but… I don't feel any tension yet." Was that a bad thing? Nora didn't think so.
She didn't eve think the Shark Man pulling his head back and laughing was a bad thing either, probably because he kept his Fin Blades up as he did so. And they were big! She thought Jaune-Jaune had a big shield now, and so pretty too. But Shark Man's were, like, probably the same size as his body. And that was big!
"I take it back! You're not half bad, you're half great!" Now that was a good thing! "Gotta be a fish to sleep in the water, and you gotta be a fighter to sense the fight. Clear as a cloudless Great Bay that you got that part in you in spades! Bet your teammates ain't drowsy either." Nora tightened her grip on Magnhild. She was definitely not tired, she couldn't be!
She was too busy staying focused because she was waiting for Jaune-Jaune to tell her to go, and then she'd be wide awake and ready to go! Even if right now she could only watch as Pyrrha and Renny crept closer across the sand, pretty obvious with how the sand was moving, she still was wide awake. She had to be.
It was hard not to be when Shark Man was clearly enjoying the fight.
But she couldn't see Link enjoying fighting.
"Why don't we pick up the tempo. Four-Eights time, now." Four ate who? "Can't think before you stroke, you just gotta reach, tear, and rip!" Tear what?! Nora did see any paper to tear, but the Shark Man's shark teeth were really bright and scary! Just not as scary as how fast he was running towards them, and his big Fin Blades were still up!
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG Nora heard and saw Renny firing Storm Flower at Shark Man, but the bullets were bouncing off of his Fin blades and sparking with it. Those must have been really hard! Or his Aura was super strong, but they already knew that. But awesome as that was, it wasn't what she was supposed to be waiting for!
Pyrrha was running up fast first, because her bestie on the team was always charging in head first. And she even had her shield up this time. Maybe she'd even use it! Renny was dashing around the side, probably to get a better shot, like when Nora had to fight a lot of Ursa and he liked to stab them in the backs, in a good way. Almost everything Renny did was a good thing.
Nora wanted to jump in and help! Especially because this was the kind of fighting, she liked, and Shark Man was still looking strong! Especially because he easily rolled under Pyrrha's thrust, only to kick up off the ground to both attack and jump in the air, which was kind of awesome. Almost as awesome as how he threw both of his Fin Blades at Renny mid-jump, making her friend stop firing and dodge them. That should have given her best friend Pyrrha a moment to strike, but of course, Shark Man didn't need a shield, or his Fin Blades!
Instead, he started kicking out like Renny did in training, but with super long legs, and a cry that sounded like he was still screaming into a fan. Best Friend Pyrrha was dodging them, because she was awesome, but she wasn't attacking back, at least not hitting back. Shark Man kept moving his head, or his shoulder, or his hip, or his really well chiseled abs, out of the way.
And he was still grinning at her! It was the same kind of grin Nora like to wear when she was fighting, and not because she was in a fight. Shark Man kept wearing it even as he raised his arms, jumping back from her best friend and letting his Fin Blades catch again… only to immediately throw them out again at Renny! She had to watch her partner kick back at the sand, almost falling over to avoid the projectile shooting at him like… well like a really sharp fin flying through the air! It would have been awesome if it wasn't keeping Renny from helping, or shooting.
But at least that was keeping him from really beating Pyrrha, even if she hadn't hit the Shark Man yet either. Even when he turned away from her to throw that blade, he just kept bouncing and weaving and waving and making Nora wonder if he was really a Shark or maybe a Manta. Because Manta Rays could see the future, or so she read in a lot of comics. And those were totally real, just like the librarian told her.
Even though the Shark Man was having fun, and Nora knew why, at least she was pretty sure, she could tell that Pyrrha and Renny weren't. She knew why for that as well. Fighting was fun, no duh, but falling down on the sand constantly to avoid giant flying fish blades wasn't fun, especially if they kept coming in pairs and probably hurt really bad. So was missing every single hit and swing you took, even if the Shark Man was really tall! Lanky, yeah, like thinner than Jaune-Jaune, but still really tall.
"This isn't working," Jaune-Jaune said next to her. Oh yeah, he was paying attention to. Actually, she was waiting for him to give the signal. Did that mean the signal was coming? "He's just… Pyrrha said he isn't giving it is all, but does he even have to try against us?" Oh, that was a bad thought. Bad thoughts weren't good to have in a fight. That was why Nora didn't like them. But she knew what to do to make fighting fun!
"Don't worry Jaune-Jaune, we can still do this!" Nora cried out ecstatically. She was bouncing in the sand, which wasn't as easy as dirt or her bed, but it was still better than concrete or rubble. That hurt to fall in. "He hasn't hit Renny or Pyrrha either, right? So that means we're all doing a-okay!"
"Yeah, that's true, but…" Nora started to pout. There weren't supposed to be buts when fighting, unless you were kicking one. That was the only exception. Buts were for fights, not fighting. "But we're not going to be able to do much unless we can get him to use his… you know." Yeah, she didn't, but why was he- oh! Right! Because Shark Man was still part Link and Link had really good hearing because Link was a Faunus! Of course, the fairies would spoil everything. Spoil fairies!
"Then we just gotta get him really upset so he can let out!" Nora declared, gripping Magnhild a bit tighter and watching the fight again. Unfortunately, not much had changed, which was really bad when you were fighting. Fighting was supposed to be fast and fun! Considering how Shark Man and Pyrrha and Renny still weren't hurt, this was taking too long!
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG Even if Renny was able to shoot again, Shark Man had one of his Fin Blades up and was moving around Pyrrha as she tried to swing and stab and kick at him. The kicking should have worked, especially if she aimed lower. Why wasn't she aiming lower! All men were weak lower! But maybe that was because he was so tall? Maybe.
But Nora could still tell that there wasn't much she could do, especially because if she tried to hit Shark Man now, she might ruin Jaune-Jaune's plan, and Pyrrha and Ren like the plan so she couldn't ruin it. Besides, she was promised that she'd be able to fight the Shark Man one on one if it worked, so it was a plan she liked! She just needed it to hurry up and happen!
"Dang it! He's dodging everything!" Jaune-Jaune yelled. See? He was upset too! Fights weren't fun, and they weren't fighting, so it doubly wasn't fun! "I mean, I get Link is strong and everything, but Pyrrha is like… invincible!" Nora was really glad she didn't hear that, Pyrrha that is. Her best friend didn't need to know her man thought that. Yet. "Maybe there's… why would he be able to dodge everything? Something like Ruby's ability? Or Yang's?" Her team leader was thinking, that was good, because Jaune-Jaune was a good thinker.
She watched him hold up his shiny new shield, probably to keep himself safe behind it, even if they were already far enough away. He was thinking though, and that was good, and Renny was letting Pyrrha fight, which was also good, because her bestie was a good at fighting alone. She just had to ask Cardin about that! But Jaune-Jaune was still right, about the Shark Man.
Nora watched as he twisted in the sand, spinning his Fin Blades around and blocking more bullets from Renny. That was bad, because Renny probably didn't have many more bullets left. That was why it was bad. It really didn't help that the Shark Man was still smiling, even as he bent his really long limbs to move around Pyrrha's strikes, going lower than she thought he could and even flipping over a few of her attacks, still holding up that shield. And man, that was a really sharp smile.
"Maybe he's getting advice? No, wouldn't make sense, not fast enough, a-and that's not like Link." Jaune-Jaune was muttering next to Nora, but that was okay. He wasn't in the fight, so eh had to think about it, kind of like how Nora was still watching it. She still wished it was inside, where she wasn't nervous about the sand getting into her shoes.
That wasn't a problem for Shark Man, who kicked at the sand and shot up a huge cloud of sand! It was because of those long legs of his! That was why the cloud was big enough to almost completely cover Renny! And Renny had to hold up his arms and jump back, meaning that he couldn't fire and he couldn't see and he was going to have to shake out his clothes later.
But was even worse was that Shark Man now had both of his Fin Blades and he was still fighting Pyrrha! And now he was focused on her and was attacking as well, and Pyrrha was having to jump back to avoid him, which was really REALLY bad because she wasn't as tall as he was, so she couldn't reach as far as he could, and he wasn't giving her time to shoot, not that it would hit, seeing as he blocked all of Renny's attacks.
The Shark Man was almost skipping across the sand, and Nora had to remind herself that fish needed water to swim, because otherwise she'd think that he was swimming through the air. But that would be silly, almost as silly as a powerful warrior transforming and fighting with parts of his own body because they were waiting for lightning to strike. Super silly. But super bad. Fights were bad, and she still wasn't fighting! Just Pyrrha was!
"I'm out of ammo." Renny was next to Jaune-Jaune, holding up his guns. That was bad! "Not to interfere with your plan, but I think that was Mikau's to force me to expel all my ammunition to force a close-range fight." Only a close-range fight against Pyrrha? It really was just best friend Pyrrha. That would have been really cool if it wasn't really bad!
"He was?" Jaune-Jaune asked. "Maybe… Maybe he was purposefully not attacking and that… no no, hold on… why would he want that?" Her captain asked as he looked back at the fight, and Pyrrha was still fighting, so that made sense. And… oh, maybe that wasn't good, because it was a fight. But… but was Pyrrha actually fighting?
Because it didn't look like it.
Shark Man was swinging at Pyrrha with his Fin Blades, and he was slicing down in ways that was making her bestie have to jump away, and retreat, and always stay out of his reach, which meant he was way outside of hers. He swung for her head, which was like his chiseled abs level, only to follow through with the swing sand kick out with the back of his heel, only to then swing with the other Fin Blade, and all while he kept grinning like Nora did when she was fighting.
Pyrrha was doing her best, Nora knew that, because there was no way her bestie was doing anything else other than her best. She was able to duck beneath the Fin Blade, then roll back out of the way of the kick, then jump back, when he swung forward again, only to put her really far away and… and she got Milo into its gun format! That was her bestie, changing weapons on the fly, super fly!
BANG BANG BANG BANG Pyrrha was super accurate with her gun, just like she always was, hitting right at Shark Man and right where she knew would probably hurt this Aura the most. Unfortunately, Shark Man did the same thing he did with Renny.
He blocked them all.
His Fin Blades were just too big, because all he had to do was hold them up and crouch a little and he was completely hidden by them. He was like a wall of really shiny blue scales, which would have been really cool, if it wasn't in a fight. But he was fighting, so maybe that was why he was grinning with those really sharp teeth.
Nora was sure that Pyrrha was going to do something amazing then and attack, maybe sneak up on him with his guard up! All the Shark Man had to do was not move for the few second, she needed! Instead though, even if Pyrrha started charging as she was still shooting, the Shark Man only kept his guard up, not doing anything but moving around the sand and waiting out Pyrrha… oh, that was what he was doing.
"He really does want to get up close," Jaune-Jaune spoke up. Nora looked at hm, and her captain had that look in his eyes, the same look like when they fought that giant stone thing in the Emerald Forest. Had he realized something? Like why pancakes were the best meal of the day? Or maybe how to start fighting? "I-I don't know how he knows our attacks but…"
"Jaune," Renny spoke up. Good old Renny, knowing that he had to stay focused. Just like her, and how she knew that the Shark Man's smile was all about enjoying fighting, but not the fight. He had it, just like her. "What is it?"
"It's his strategy!" Jaune-Jaune spoke again. "I-I-I really don't know how he's sensing our attacks o-or if he's suddenly gone super psychic or something or if that is actually is Semblance or something else like that-"
"Jaune." Oh, serious Ren. That wasn't Renny. Jaune-Jaune knew that as well. Good thing, too, because bestie Pyrrha was still fighting, and not getting much closer. Well, still shooting at least, which was still some kind of fighting, even if Nora preferred to shoot grenades that it a lot of things at once instead of just one, or two.
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-CLICK Or she was shooting, until she couldn't anymore.
Nora watched Pyrrha not miss a beat, because she was really good at fighting, and how she jumped back the moment her gun stopped firing. Milo was transformed into spear Milo again, the best kind of Milo. But her bestie was holding up her shield, crouched, and staring up at the Shark Man, even as his shield's lowered, and he looked at her, grinning all the same.
"Heck of a fight you got goin, knowin' I can do much but block those pellets of yours." Pellets? Did he bite his tongue for bullets? That would stink, because he had sharp teeth! That was hard to miss as he kept smiling! "Had to guess though, you're stalin for somethin' yourself. Only guess that cause your fightin' like a dolphin 'gainst a shark. Ain't aimin' for the kill, just keep away. Smart, but's not goin' to the trenches."
"I am… still thinking of how to fight you," Pyrrha spoke up. But she didn't stop her fighting stance. She must have been having fun! Nora was sure she'd be smiling as well, if she could see her at least, when her back wasn't turned. "I'm sorry if this is rude, but you are not a normal combatant I fight. You're far taller than most of my duelists and you very skilled. So I-"
"Okay, okay, no need for show and tell. The guppies are still watchin'," the Shark Man interrupted, which was rude, but he did point towards the crowd of Beacon people that were watching them still. All up on the hill or those concrete walls or on the docks like team SNNN, even if one of them was a statue now. Oh yeah, she forgot they were all there. "You're good and you know I'm good. Appreciate the hot air, helps the algae, but the set's gotta keep movin'." Nora didn't know what that meant.
"I'm… I'm sorry but what?" Pyrrha questioned. She still didn't move, even if Nora saw Jaune-Jaune move. Or more like her Captain was gripping his shiny shield harder. And Renny was holding up his Storm flowers as well. Oh! And she was really gripping Magnhild. Guess she really did want to fight!
"Sorry, but we're tryin' not to bore us, so we're skippin' to the chorus."
Oh, that sounded bad.
"Nora! Help Pyrrha!"
Oh! But that sounded amazing!
Nora grinned as bright and broad as the Shark Man. She glanced at Jaune-Jaune, just a glance, and enough to see that he was pointing at the Shark Man even as he was holding up his shield, in front of Renny! That was her que!
"Aye-Aye, captain!" Nora shouted, raising up Magnhild and running full tilt at the Shark Man. Well, maybe half tilt, cause it was hard to run as fast as she could on the sandy beach, but it was still way faster and way better than just sitting back and watching. This was where the fun was going to start, because she could finally show just how strong she was.
It was still hard to run across the sand, but she was getting ground, and just in time for the Shark Man to stop looking at her bestie Pyrrha and focus on her. Pyrrha knew what to do, because she was amazing and Jaune-Jaune had told them what to do when she got the signal, and Nora was the signal! There could be no better signal to follow than her! Not even Signal Academy!
The Shark Man was towering over her, even if she had her own giant hammer, and he had his Fin Blades in his hands. But that was okay, because even if he blocked her, she could hit extra hard! But if Jaune-Jaune was right…
"Okay, can't turn away a volunteer." She was volunteering alright!
Nora swung sideways with her hammer, just like Jaune-Jaune told her to if she got close first. After seeing Shark Man dodge so much, she wasn't surprised to see that he had gone low from her blow. For a big guy like him, he must have been really good at Limbo! They should play when they were done fighting, that was way more fun than a fight! But that was later, for now, she had to focus!
And the Shark Man was rising up from her 'missed' swing like he was coming out of the ocean! The sand wasn't water! But he did really look like a shark with those teeth, those scales, those fins, and that grin! Nora made sure hers was up to match. Because this was fighting and this was fun!
GRIP! Even when he grabbed a hold of her shoulders!
"You ready?!" The Shark Man shouted, even as he stood way above her. He shouted it as he held a really strong grip on her and Nora knew what was coming! Nora's grin was even brighter than before, just as her grip on Magnhild got even tighter!
"Do your worst!" Nora shouted triumphantly. That was what all the heroes said! And the Shark Man grinned back down at her, even laughing with it. Nora did the same, even if she felt his shadow tower over and surround her.
"Then let's go!" And in the next moment, everything was white.
Well, white and blue, blue and sparky. And black beyond that. It was blue and white and sparky all around her, but everything past the Shark Man or the beach or… anything else actually was really dark. When did it become night? Why was it night? She was so full of energy still. She hadn't even begun to fight!
Those huge hands on her shoulders, a bit sharp and a little webbed, felt like they were pushing pure awesome fighting energy straight into her! Like when she fell onto that transformer thing when she was a kid before, or when she was struck by lightning, or when she was taking a bath and the toaster fell in, it felt like all of those, and then rolled up into one, put into a giant ball, shot into the sky, and then raining it down all over again!
Nora grinned, even as she saw sparks flying off of her body. She felt like a hundred million percent! She felt like she had finally been accepted by the pancake goddess to help smite the evil of the land with the power of waffles, syrup, strawberries, and extra boost of electrodes! Even as her hands gripped Magnhild, even at the same time Shark Man was staring down at her and, for probably the first time, not looking all happy, she knew that she really was strong!
Then he let go of her, not that it would help.
The power and lightning and all that awesome sparking stuff went away, and it felt like when Renny pulled her out of a hot bath. Really chilly at first, but it woke her up fast! Awoke, woke, and ready to fight till she was broke. Oh… and it was on! Even if… oh, her legs were too strong. That wasn't her bad. Nope, that was the Shark Man's.
Nora fell forward a little bit, just a little. Didn't count as a flinch, because he actually touched her. But it was a good fall, because her knees didn't hit the sand. She felt too great to let that happen. Way best what she thought. Oh yeah, this was it. This was Jaune-Jaune's plan, and it was amazing!
"Something… ain't flowin' right." The Shark Man asked, and he sounded the same. No, he sounded confused, that wasn't important though. This was still a fight, and Nora was fighting now! "You 'kay seafoam? Need a new melody to hum?" Hum? Oh no, humming was what you did when you were bored, and Nora Valkyrie was not bored! This was not boring!
This was fighting. And it was SUPER AWESOME FIGHTING TIME!
"OOOOOoooooohhhhh yyyyeAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!"
She raised Magnhild into the air, feeling the light steel in her hand lift like a feather! Feathers were heavier than this thing now! Her ultimate weapon was in her hand, and the Shark Man was just in front of her! That was all that she needed to know!
Not that the sand was glass, even though that was cool, or that everyone else was quiet, because they weren't cool for school. That didn't matter, only her fighting, to end this fight, and have fun with the Shark Man that had given her the Omega Sanction to fight with!
"I'll take that as a no…" No? HA! There was no no!
"No!" Nora yelled! "There is no NO! THERE IS ONLY NORA!"
So she swung Magnhild forward, as hard, fast, and with all the enjoyment she could.
And it hit so hard, Nora couldn't even hear the explosion that came after.
After having worked with Link of Hyrule at the Monument Mine, Penny had collected a large amount of data regarding the foreign Huntsman. Regarding him as well as Darunia of the Gorons, though he was not a current target of interest. Instructor Link, on the other hand, as her Friend/Leader Cardin said was an appropriate metaphor to use, was a constant draw of her memory resources for curiosities and data dissemination.
Specific examples that were recalled to her recollection processes involved his use of externally stored memories to significantly alter his physical appearance and personality, as stated impossibility in most of her known texts and studies of biology. Further curiosities were collected regarding the unknown and still unestablished means by which many of his tools were powered and operated, varying significantly from the observable counterparts from CCTV archives. These curiosities were using her main processing unit was constantly in use to try and find observable or plausible reasons for or methods pertaining to. Such methods would be transferred to her Papa Zepp.
However, her ability and frequency with which she initiated these transfers of data through the terminal streams became irregular, resulting in many failed milestones in her PMP chart. Such events were not unplanned as was one of the many bulleted reasons why her projected and assumed completion dates for activities were given a 2.1x expansion, to ensure timelines were still matched per Military regulations. Yet, she still frequently missed these, to her personal disapproval, marring her system's otherwise positive upkeep.
The reason for missing said timelines and milestones was not an unknown however, far unlike Instructor Link. These reasons did involve said Faunus of the subject matters, but his reasoning for delaying her processes was concluded to not be an intentional act on his part. That was assumed so as the delays were results of Penny's observation of his skills and putting forward processing units for deciding on possible reasons why.
It was impossible for Operational Unit Penny to place blame on Instructor Link for constantly and consistently being responsible and enacting amazing things.
More such curiosities were born every time Penny turned on her recording units through her ocular sensors, such as during this designated match between team JNPR and Instructor Link, operating as Mikau of the Zora. Mikau, who previously was established to have a musical background before specified demise, by the records of Instructor Oobleck, being led by Instructor Link, who has already been established as a formidable and high-tier Hunter since his proven defeat of the Ancient Grimm of the Badlands.
Yet during said fight, Penny continued to observe more curiosities her memory had to collect and bullet for further analysis. Notes included the following.
· How was Mikau able to throw his peripheral fins with accuracy and simultaneously retrieve them, even after their kinetic force was lost through blows with external sources.
· How was Mikau able to dodge Friend Pyrrha's attacks even when not observing her, and focused on Friend Lie Ren's projectiles?
· What were the materials that Mikau's peripheral fins were made out of to deflect bullets from Friend Lie Ren without observable lose to his Aura?
Those were the immediate questions and curiosities that Penny developed and dedicated processing time for later that night, perhaps with the hope that variables would reach a common pattern and she could develop a 95% or greater probability of an answer. Perhaps, though previous assumptions proved unlikely. For now, her energy was best spent observing the fight still occurring beneath her. And doing so created a new curiosity. For the specificity of her notes, a curiosity that was developed following a series of miss-actions on Mikau's part.
The first mistake was failing to realize that Friend Jaune had enacted a ploy to intentionally have Nora be attacked. The second mistake was activating his own Assumed Semblance on said girl, unknowing that Friend Nora had Electrical Conductivity as a Semblance. The third mistake, and perhaps the most critical, was not ceasing his electrical attack, impressive as it was, until Friend Nora was letting off excess electrons due to having reached an assumed saturation level. Together, they totaled in a conclusive action on the part of Friend Nora.
BOOOOOOM!
The sound of her hammer hitting a target was evidence to said action.
Further evidence was provided by the high velocity hair that blew past the majority of the crowd, creating a significant storm of sand on the beach front as well. The result was expected, as the high velocity and resultant force easily led to resultant combustion of the oxygen and carbon atoms in the air. It was just as clear, however, that the majority of the observing members of Beacon were not prepared. Including those around her.
Friend Cardin, Friend Russel, and Friend Dove were holding their arms up to prevent the gust from drying their eyes, with only Friend Cardin not requiring gripping the nearby metallic and grounded railing. Friend Russel and Friend Dove, however, lost nearly thirteen inches of fore-aft positioning due to the resultant force. It was a measurement shared with majority of the surrounding crowd, those not braced against significant objects that is. Said fortunate members including Instructor Link's companions and charge.
"W-wHOA!" Fairy Tatl yelled from in front of her, bracing herself against Penny's exterior garments. Her sibling was doing the same, both using her sufficiently sturdy body to break the resulting explosion and out break of air that came from Friend Nora's attack. "HOLD ON!" Her cry was unnecessary, but understood.
Fairy Tael was yelling as well, though Child Moraine was unresponsive as she gripped Penny's lower extremity. Her internal force transducers found the strength to be lacking, but a deviation above average for children her age. She noted it and continued to observe and record.
The explosion quickly dissipated, however, as was to be expected from an eruption lacking a proper catalyst or accelerant. The cloud of sand that was blown upwards as well was starting to dissipate, lacking the charged molecules Mikau had strewn through his won previous attack. It gave Penny moments to observe the remaining observable members of team JNPR, standing away as Friend Pyrrha and Friend Jaune held up their shields.
Friend Nora, however, quickly appeared from the crowd. She was still smiling rather brightly, though lacking the once prominent charge of electrons due to her strong attack. However, that did not correlate to a complete removal of her powers. Rather, only a significant dip, still well average for her already unusually high strength. Perhaps a change from 14.6x her normal strength to 3.76x. Still a dangerous metric for most combatants Friend Nora may face. Unfortunately, due to the heavy storm of Dust, Penny had temporarily lost track of Mikau of the Zora.
That was to clarify, when the sand dispersed, he was not present at the epicenter of the blast.
"The heck was that?!" Friend Tatl yelled out. She flew up and rang the statement, noticeably different from normal speech. It was a question that was similarly spoken by others nearby, though not as loud as the fairy. "How the hell did that girl get that kind of freaking power!? What even was that!?" Penny fond the Child Moraine still hadn't let go of her leg. It wasn't a bad observation, as it means the child's safety, just another. Similar to how Mikau of the Zora was still missing.
"That was… dammit…" Friend Cardin spoke out of breath. That was normal when focusing on other activities other than respiration, or so Penny concluded from her previous observations of other organics. "That was Nora's Semblance. The freaking brat… Dust and Grimm…" Penny did not understand that, as Friend Nora was far too old to be considered a brat, and she did not possess any materialistic personality traits.
"Girl turns lightning into power," Friend Dove spoke behind her, with a bit more ease. Penny's memory algorithms predicted it was because he was able to brace himself, unlike Friend Cardin. "And that fish… Zora… just super charged her. Like… Probably past the max." That was incorrect. As such, it was Penny's duty to extrapolate.
"Actually, Friend Dove, I suspect that due to the excess electrons observable on visible wavelengths that were around Friend Nora before, she had already reached her maximum capacity and was therefore bleeding off the excess power." It was a logical conclusion, and one that was supported by her knowledge of other biological and engineering systems. "Similar to a Pressure Relieve Valve in a Hydraulic circuit returning the fluid flow to the tank once exceeding a given value."
"…Kay, sure," Friend Dove agreed with her, and she smiled appropriately. She kept her ocular sensors recording the fight, however, or the search for it, as Mikau of the Zora was still missing. "Just… basically she hit with way more power than normal is all."
"Is all?!" Fairy Tatl yelled and rang. It was a sound she was sure would be painful to most organic auditory bones, specifically the cochlear. "I've seen bombs make less of an explosion than that!" And it was true, as it did not have nearly the same concussive force as a combustion explosion. If it had, and was similarly having its force applied externally rather than focused, Penny had low probabilities for the well-being of the crowd. Penny was already hitting with a measured fifty ton force, roughly.
"Is all because it doesn't last that long!" Friend Cardin yelled. HE had his voice back, which was stupendous! She knew how difficulty it could be to communicate without a voice. It was why Papa Zepp gave her a vocal unit early in her development. "Seriously, it doesn't. It's why she doesn't just bit on some Dust before a fight, cause she gets one hit and that's it." Friend Cardin's response was also true, though Penny had minimal information to draw on, only records from Instructor Goodwitch's lessons.
"That's a hell of a hit she's got behind it!" Fairy Tatl continued to yell. She was also rapidly moving through the air, with an acceleration curve through the standard x-y-z plane that was both unconventional and highly irregular. "Where the hell did she even hit Mikau off to!?" That was a question Penny was glad to hear someone else query. Although, though delayed by 5.4 seconds, it was a curiosity that was rapidly growing.
"Where the heck is Link?"
"That explosion rip him to dust?!
"Would called the match if that was the case."
"Maybe the hit buried him. Can't see him if the sand is covering him."
Penny disproved rapidly the ideas of Mikau being buried. Her quick and timely analysis of the beach's sand volume, complete with the assumption of no change in density in any pockets, related to the final idea that there were no hidden bodies across the terrain, as there was no change in the surface area or volume. Therefore, he was not in the sand, but he was still missing.
That was only one effect for consideration. Another was the observable Aura levels linked to the combatants, including Mikau of the Zora. Stated levels had decreased dramatically, nearly 56%. Impressive with regards to the force of the blow delivered by Friend Nora, but still a detriment to a previously even match. Whatever was to follow was almost entirely dependent upon the results of Instructor Link's and Mikau of the Zora's next move.
"Hey! There he is! I see him!" Said declaration came from Friend Yang, who was pointing out towards the battle arena. Friend Ruby was saying something as well, but Penny could ask the contents of the meeting later, another curiosity. Main matter at hand was Mikau.
Friend Yang was pointing outwards towards the edge of the arena, beyond the limitations of the sand and into the aquatic territory. Of course, that made sense. Penny did not resolve her sensors for Mikau's amphibious abilities beyond his texture and appearance. Focusing her ocular sensors on the edges of the tide, perhaps a square three thousand and sixty feet of water area available.
And treading in it was Mikau, or at least his visible head.
"Okay, that was smart," Leader/Friend Cardin pointed out, and Penny agreed with her leader. "Can't exactly swing that hammer at full speed in the water, not that she's gonna get out there fast enough either." Indeed, that appeared to be the case that Friend Nora and Friend Jaune also realized, by the observable and barely audible groaning.
"Still a heck of a blow Link took," Fairy Tatl rang out, however. "Probably hit like Gyorg supped up on something. Didn't help that it must've hit like a bomb flower." More curiosities came from the fairy's words, but stored for later. Her admission for Mikau's disadvantage, however, was also noted.
Also noted, though not a verbal cue, was how the Child Moraine was still gripping her legs. A bit lighter than before, but still present.
"He's gotta be planning something though, and I got no idea what." Friend Russel spoke as well. He was scratching his head, a common human tick for confusion or curiosity. "How about you two? You know what he's doing?" Friend Russel spoke addressing Fairies Tatl and Tael. They both rang before responding, but there was no auditory que to their words.
"Resting?" Fairy Tatl let out. Her ring was higher. Did that mean it was meant to be deceptive? Or mocking? Penny had been told by Friend Cardin that a false increase in tone was a common form of bullying or mocking. She recorded it for future comparison. "Getting a swim in after the warm up?" Penny confirmed the tone was mocking.
"Zoras are said to be one with the water, and can feel its movement as clear as their own." Fairy Tael, however, spoke with an unaltered tone. His words still raised curiosity. "Or… i-it does probably feel better for Mikau than open air…" That was also believable, but in the midst of a fight, Penny could not so easily conclude that Instructor Link would simply flee to the water and wait. It did not suit his previous methods of attack.
Something else was occurring, as concurred by Friend Russel and Leader/Friend Cardin. Friend Dove likely also agreed. The issue was Penny had little information on Mikau to form a clear opinion on what was occurring. She could only continue to observe and continue to note curiosities for analysis later.
Both Instructor Link and Mikau of the Zora never lacked in them.
Ren's Semblance was what amounted to a mask. A mask that calmed his mind, focused his body, and kept him trained on the moments that were important. It was the perfect tool for dealing with the Grimm, making him, and anyone he touched, appear no different than the rest of the land around them. Perhaps not nearly as influential as the Link's true masks, but a mask nonetheless.
It was one he depended on often, to keep himself from being reminded of the burning of his village, to let him focus more on the day that was to follow and not the one that came before, and to see the threats before him, when they otherwise would hide in his rage. It was a trick that came with discipline, and a discipline he had honed into a fine tool for his team.
Though he had never heard of the terms that Impa had used some weeks ago now, of Shadows and Mages, Warriors and Unknowns, he could see his benefits as a Shadow, or so she described it. Hiding in plain sight, out of view from the enemy, to either gain information for his comrades or prepare a deadly assault. He commonly did the latter, but he was not ignorant of the former. With a friend like Nora, it was impossible to be.
The use of his Semblance so often, to keep himself calm and focused, gave him a sense for the coming threats. It was a necessity whilst living with Nora, and it served them both well. And the frequent use of it created a sense that he could use without his Semblance, and for understanding those around him. Simply put, as others may ask him to be, he had a gut feeling for things that did not feel right.
And Mikau, amphibious friend of Link, and one of the few individuals who could endure a blow from Nora and not pass out, treading water out of range of their team yet still in the shallows of the beach, did not feel right, though he could not place exactly why.
Perhaps it was because he had quickly wizened to the short duration Nora could keep the charge of her strength, already nearly depleted from the singular, yet near cataclysmic, blow. Perhaps it was because he was amphibious by nature and common in his use of the tongue, meaning he had a clear advantage in the water. Perhaps it was because, despite a glance at his Scroll and seeing nearly half a drop in his Aura preserves, the Zora was still smiling. That was what majority of his team noticed, and doubtlessly those in the crowd.
"Good job Nora," he heard Jaune congratulate his friend. "Maybe he's not down, but half-way is way better than before. You're still good, right?" Without looking, Ren could hear his old friend nodding. He did not want to take his gaze off of the treading fish.
"I'm ex-static Jaune!" Ren resolved to keep Yang away from Nora for a while. She was clearly rubbing off far too much. "I feel like I could mine an entire Dust mine! BY MYSELF!" She likely would try, and Ren knew she would, especially with the offer of food on the table.
"M-Maybe later, after the fight," Jaune brought her back on topic. He was showing his qualities as a leader with such words. "Mikau's hurt, but he's not out yet. Even if we're outta bullets." They were? Ren was aware that he was, but so was Pyrrha? Nora hadn't fired a shot yet?
"Oh! I can still shoot!" The sound of gears whipping around behind Ren was clear enough what Nora was doing, but again, he did not move. He wanted to keep his pink gaze on the Zora. Watching as he kept grinning with sharp teeth, even if his own gaze was doubtlessly on the transforming hammer behind him. "I can shoot explosive rounds! It'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. So let's gettim' into a barrel!" There was the Nora he knew so well.
"That- can work, in a second." Jaune wisely stopped his friend, or at least slowed her down. It spoke volumes that she would trust him so well. Then again, Jaune was a man who deserved it. "That'd be strong, yeah, but… actually, maybe that would be a good idea. What do you think Pyrrha?" Though asking questions like that in a fight may not be best.
"Explosives in the water like that would be similar to a depth charge," Pyrrha answered almost stoically. She was likely just as focused as Ren was. "However, considering the speed at which I assume Mikau can swim, his unnatural ability to avoid blows, and that he will recognize where you are shooting… it is viable he will just attempt to run you out of your ammunition as well." That was also likely. But there was another reason to not fire.
"We also do not know how affective your rounds will be, Nora," Ren spoke over his shoulder. "He used the sand as cover before, so it is just as likely he'd use the explosions of your grenades as cover to attack." Be it Mikau or Link, it would be a wise and deceptive tactic. When outmatched, it was the obvious choice.
"Alright alright, I'll hold back… for now…" That was all Ren needed, for now as well. "But we still gotta get him outta the water, right? And he is coming out, cause he can't just stay there, right?" Nora's question, though not perfectly crafted, did have merit to it. "Hey! Are you coming out of the water soon!" Yelling, however, did not.
"Nora!" Jaune spoke up, too late, to scold his friend. Ren kept his gaze on Mikau, watching as the Zora was doing something, chuckling most likely. He was keeping his neck below the waterline, likely to wet his gills. Ren was curious how the dry air affected them, or how he was able to survive without water.
"In a minute!" Ren felt his grip tighten when Mikau yelled back. "Gotta catch my breath after that whiplash of yours! Felt like gettin' dragged by a Leever through the dirt for a second there!" He recognized he was hurt and… he was using it as a conversation topic? Maybe… or far more likely, he was trying to distract them. Maybe just delay them. "It ain't easy keepin' my breathin' straight in the air for that long, 'specially when you Sanke Carp and Hyrule Bass tryin' to push my face into the sand!" Was… was that them?
"Is he referring to us?" Pyrrha asked aside Ren, and he could only shrug, though there was a suspicion, a likely one at that. The bright, and sharp, grin from the Zora showed he either heard them, or appreciated that they recognized the nicknames. They weren't hard to figure out… but he couldn't tell if they were insulting or not. "Is… is a Sanke Carp a good name or not?"
"On of the rarest fish in Hyrule, way I 'member it at least!" Mikau yelled back, and Ren was confident now that he had heard their conversation… and was inserting himself into it. "Takes a rare kinda fish to keep up with me, and you weren't slippin' during that little duel of ours. So good on ya, keepin' pace and matchin' beats like that!" The compliments were showered on Pyrrha… though it was evident that neither Link or Mikau were aware of the frequency such things were given to the Mistral Champion.
"I… I thank you for your kind words," Pyrrha responded back. There was no cheer in her voice, similar to when Jaune would give such compliments. "But may I request you return to the beach soon so we can continue the match? It is… I'm sorry but I don't believe any of us have the means to face you in the water!"
"It's true, we don't." Jaune spoke up from behind them, and Ren could hear Nora pouting as well.
"You don't?" Mikau asked back, as if the question were not obvious. Was it not to him? No, not with Link there. "Aw, and here I was thinking that one of you could breath underwater or something like that. Don't tell me you decided ta fight me just cause I can push a little lightning out around me. Did you?" It was a factor, but not the sole reason… but a major contributor.
But Ren kept his silence, no matter how likely it was that a trained fighter such as Mikau or Link would be aware of the deception. IT was still superior to outright speaking the answer.
"Of course, we did!" Nora did not receive that warning, unfortunately. "Cause, I mean, you're good, but our girl Pyrrha's just as good, if not better, and you're not gonna do much to me with lightning. Your rage only makes me stronger!" Ren would have only been slightly disappointed in the cackling that followed, if it were any other time. For now, he was disappointed. He was not the only one on their team.
"I-I'm not that good! Nora! Don't brag about me like that!
"Don't tell Link about your powers either! That's the Unknown we told you about!"
"Oh! That's right! My bad Jaune-Jaune!" The harsh sigh that came after, as well as the slap that followed, were doubtlessly both from Jaune. His disappointment and his hand slapping his forehead. "But what's the big deal? It doesn't change anything, does it? HE's not going to suddenly gain new powers to fight us with, right?" That was a horrible thing to ask. "Shark Man! Are you going to fight us with new powers!?" So of course, Nora had to ask.
"Nora…" Ren let out this time, shutting his eyes briefly as he sighed with his team leader. He knew Nora hated fights, but she certainly enjoyed fighting. This was evidence of that if nothing else.
When he opened his eyes, he expected to see Mikau laughing, maybe taking advantage of their teammate, his partner and life long friend, admitting that they had no other pre-conceived strategies for dealing with him. Of course, while still treading water. What he did not expect was the Zora's head to be leaning back, as if looking up into the sky. If anything, he appeared… contemplative?
"Well, I wasn't plannin' on doin' anything different. I mean, half the reason Link wants ta do these matches for ya is for you ta see how yer plannin's goin, ya know?" The conversation turned oddly serious with that tone, by Ren's own impression at least. He hoped the crowd matched, as they had gone rather quiet compared to before. "Pickin yer fights and makin' sure you're ready for 'em, not knowin' what to expect, but at the same time not throwin' Snowhead at ya, cause what kind of fight would that be?" Far from a fair one, he was sure.
Pyrrha and Jaune were also quiet as Mikau leaned back, kicking through the water with his lengthy and clearly limber limbs. His legs almost drifted through the water, showing his great dexterity in the aqueous environment. That was not important though. Ren let his Semblance lightly flare, only a tad, controlling himself to focus on the Zora's words.
"Then again, if this is comin' down to a fight of hit and run tactics, cause its between that and keep away with your little lightning rod in the back there." One of his hands lifted and pointed towards the back, where Ren was sure, if he glanced, he would see Nora waving. Perhaps Jaune shaking his head. Ren was far more than used to it. "So… I guess the question is which kinda current do I wanna ride? The one that's calm, straight, and so narrow its erodin' stone? Or catch the wild one that's rippin its way through the underbelly of the ocean?" Or put more simply, the predicted path with a poor conclusion or the more unpredictable path with potential gain.
For Ren, and Nora the same, he knew the answer was obvious. So much so that he already knew what the Zora was going to choose. The issue was he had no idea what such a choice would bring about. He could only back away for now, holding up Storm flower and keeping himself away from the incoming tide. He saw Pyrrha do the same, Jaune catching up next to them, but not taking a step further. The Zora was still watching.
"Judgin' by the way you're all getting' ready, pretty obvious you've already seen which way the wind's gonna blow." His words were honest, and his smile was as bright, and sharp, as it was before. "Well… can't exactly let Link take over and start splashin' you 'round, not when I agreed to do the fightin' this time. So I guess I'm just gonna have to skip the warm up and jump straight to the finale." That did not bode well, it never did when it was being delivered on a receiving end.
It became even worse when the Zora dipped underwater and disappeared.
"Wait, where'd he go?" Nora asked from behind them, Ren did not answer, for he did not have one. An exact one at least. "He didn't run away, did he? He's not a scaredy cat? He's a fish, so he's gotta hate cats." Her logic was as flawless as ever.
"Underwater, to get something ready," Jaune whispered instead. "That means what ever he's doing… he's hiding. Yeah, he's trying to hide it." His leader was nodding his head with his words, and Ren found himself agreeing. Hiding underwater so they could not prepare themselves in kind. It was smart, deceptive, just as he knew a four on one match would go.
"You're right," Pyrrha also agreed with their leader. "And if that is the case… it may not be a logical weapon he is preparing to use, I-I-I mean a conventional one." She quickly corrected herself, though either comment could be correct by Ren's judgement. "I've seen other duelists use them, usually trying to stay at the far edges of an arena to get it ready. Underwater… probably works the same."
"Right, makes sense," Jaune took in Pyrrha's words. "Plus, it can't be electricity based again, right? Or probably not, sorry Nora." The comment must have been automatic to the whine that came from Ren's old friend. "But whatever it is… we gotta think of something… or more like something to get ready for… any ideas?" Ren had already tried thinking of some, but the noise from around them was increasing.
The crowd was chattering, likely attempting to gain better views or create theories of their own for what was happening. But they didn't need theories, they needed a decision. He heard shouts from team RWBY, as well as the newly designed CRDP, or wherever Penny's initial fit in the anagram now. Others were also boisterous… but…
He twisted around, realizing that there was a team that likely had a better vantage point than them. He was curious at first how they had gotten there, realizing only after the match started that they were technically outside the ring. Now though, they were likely in an also superior field of view than even them.
Ren looked at Team SNNN, and he watched as Sun Wukong was leaning over the docks, his eyes following the water below. Neptune was lying down on the docks, but that was unimportant, what he was watching were the interactions he had with his team. Sun, from what Ren recalled, was very emotive with what he saw and said. And now, thankfully appeared no different.
He was pointing at the water, waving his hand in front of one of his teammates faces, forcing them to look down as well. Their expressions adopted similar looks of surprise, which boded ill for them. Sun stood up then, holding out one of his hands and pointing at his raised fist with the other… what did that mean?
"Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora," Ren spoke quickly to gain their attention. "Do you understand what Sun is doing?" He pointed, hoping to make it quick. They did not need Professor Goodwitch requesting the fellow team to cease their actions, not before they gained at least a clue for what Mikau's was soon to be.
He continued to watch though as Sun kept one hand in the air, grasping his wrist with his other fist before… extending and flexing it again. What did that mean? Something was on Mikau's wrist now? A new type of fin he was wearing? If he could exchange them, that hinted towards a very large range of possibilities.
"I think… he means that Mikau is putting something on," Pyrrha suggested, just as Ren thought. "Maybe… something like his Zora Sapphire he wears? Oh, that would be bad, wouldn't it?" Ren looked at the Mistral duelist in surprise, fully knowing the implications of her words.
"Oh crap, yeah it would," Jaune agreed, before going very still for a second. "Hold on, hold on!" He yelled out, probably more for himself. Though that didn't stop Nora from grabbing a hold of his arm, likely tightly at that. "Gah! Not literally Nora!"
"Sorry! I thought it was your plan!" Ren heard chuckling from the sidelines, but he ignored it, remaining focused per the gift of his Semblance. Jaune recovered, thankfully quickly.
"Okay, yeah, but, remember when Mikau first appeared and he was asking Ms. Goodwitch about what kinda powers he could show off or whatever, to get rid of the damage or something like that?" It was to payoff damages incurred to Beacon grounds and investors, which Ren had found out nearly cost a hefty donation. Ms. Goodwitch's ire was well earned, but Mikau's performance was one to behold.
"When he talked about swimming and breathing underwater, and before he started making himself all electric eel like and jammin' out on his guitar?" Nora questioned, accurately at that. "That's all I remember, aside from him asking if controlling water was normal or not." That… was far more accurate. And it earned the quick attention of both Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ren himself.
He blinked, looking at Nora as she blissfully looked back at him. Her hammer was still tight in her hands, likely riding off of the jolt and high that came from the electricity she was subject to earlier. She frequently rode emotional highs after such sensations… and now… maybe it was keeping her from realizing what she had just said.
"Control… water…" Jaune slowly spoke. He understood the gravity as well. "Okay, that's bad… b-but he can't control a lot of it, right? I mean, there's gotta be a limit to it!" Plausible as it was, it was not something that they could test, nor were they even sure that was what was happening.
However, it was something they could prepare for.
"Doesn't matter." Pyrrha spoke up. Her senses were tense, Ren could tell. He was tempted to extend his Semblance to her, but restrained from doing so. They needed all their energy for whatever was coming next, and she was far from inexperienced with a stressful fight. "But whatever Link is planning… we may need to retreat from the tide."
"That idea I like!" Jaune hastily agreed. "Everyone get back, and spread out!" He flung his arms outwards as he started back pedaling. "Whatever Mikau's got, he's gonna have a harder time getting all of us if we're spread out!" If they were in the forest, that would have been a poor idea. On an open beach front? The plan was sound.
"Very well," Ren agreed, moving away from the group, as did Pyrrha and Nora. None turned their backs to the water, however. They were all watching and remaining vigilant for whatever Mikau was going to do, fearful now that water truly would listen to him. And if enhanced by the Zora Sapphire… perhaps there wouldn't be a limit to what he could do.
He looked over towards Team SNNN again, seeing perhaps the leader of the group could offer, intentionally or not, another visual que for what Mikau was doing. Whatever it was clearly visible to the group, as Sun appeared to be acting rather excited and… eager? The smile the Faunus sported appeared to imply a level of eagerness.
And… was he… making a guitar motion?
Cardin was used to seeing a lot of things, and usually being kept out of just as much. The few times he was included usually involved him being used at the expense of a demonstration. If it was the Invincible Girl showing off her talent by trouncing his entire team or having the fish man, the same one who was facing off against the Golden Girl, throwing his boomerang fins at him, it was usually him who got laughed at in the end.
So, when the tables were turned, and he got to watch someone else be joked around with, it was kinda fun. It was really funny when they didn't even realize it was happening. But again, whether he liked to admit it allowed or not, he at least knew when jokes were being made at his expense. Because they usually were.
About the fact that he looked more like an adult sneaking into Beacon than an actual trainer, about how he couldn't use his Semblance for more than a last-ditch effort, the fact that his team had a worse W/L record than anyone else in Beacon, or that he had the same name as a bird, and a cowardly one at that. He got all the insults thrown at him, and all usually behind his back. And those that weren't were the ones where he was the demonstration. That was just how it usually went.
However, in those rare moments when he got to watch without worrying about being made fun of or drafted, he got to see some pretty interesting things. Like how Ruby Red got some strange new power fighting Impa, or her Blonde sister getting pecked to death. Both were pretty funny when spoken out of context.
Fighting a fish Faunus that dove underwater, just after promising to bring out something new though? That was new. And it was something he couldn't wait to see. Especially when the companions of said Faunus were with his team. The kid that he was watching, mentoring, or whatever the term was for raising, along with them.
"What's he doin'?" Dove asked from behind him. "I get he's a fish, but does he, like, recover his Aura underwater or something? Is that normal?" That was actually a pretty good question, but he doubted it. He wouldn't have come up in the first place if that was true, at least not without swinging. Cardin never ran in front of an enemy and stopped when he was hurt. He kept running.
"No he can't," Tatl rang out above them, and Cardin twisted to look at the blonde ball. Not that there was much else to see with Mikau ducked underwater and team JNPR spread out like flies in a field. He didn't know what was spread out at a beach. "Mikau can breathe underwater, like all Zora, but he is limited to just that. He needs to have something to eat to recover, like everyone else, I'm sure at least." Cardin wasn't about to pretend he knew why Aura recovered, but he knew that eating wasn't the sole factor for it, but it did help.
"Would he also gain the same amount of Aura restoration if he were to, instead, ingest a liquid based meal?" Penny, the newest member of his team and replacement for Sky Lark, something Cardin was still hard on the fence about, asked. "I inquire because now is the times for questions and you specified that water does not assist him with healing."
"Breathing water doesn't do anything, but I don't even know what you mean by liquid based." The fairy was bobbing in the air as she spoke, because of course she was. Her brother, and Cardin was still surprised he was able to sort out that they were actual fairies, only hung above the head of Moraine. Actually, now that he thought about it, he had an easier time coming to terms with the fairies than he did with agreeing to babysit the kid.
Cause all the kid did was hold onto something and stare ahead. She didn't talk, at all, just like Link. Heck the brat was dressed like him too. Then again, according to the vid screens, that wasn't her fault, not that she minded.
"Are you asking if he gets better from drinking milk? Does syrup taste good to him? What?" Tatl was rocking closer to Penny with every word, and his new teammate and partner only titled her head in confusion. Nothing phased her, not even a freaking monstrous Nightmare that ripped her fake leg off. Heck of a partner to get, though.
"Or other such nutritional beverages comparable to those, yes." Cardin smirked at her words. Intentional or not, she knew how to threw a combative attitude back into the face of the speaker. He learned that the hard way, because he got his dose right after she arm wrestled him into the ground. He didn't know if his shoulder hurt from that or the Nightmare fight.
"Gotta be yes, right?" Russel asked, grinning with the question. What the heck was so clever about asking? Cardin just watched them, glancing at the beach to make sure he wasn't missing anything. So far so good, in a sense. "Otherwise he could just puree a burger and miss the calories, and I'm gonna bet a dagger that ain't how it works."
"Of course, it doesn't!" Tatl rang back, loudly. Cardin smirked at how she was nearly bouncing off of his teammates face. Only because there wasn't much way the fairy was going to do damage to his teammates. Not when she weighed and hit like a tennis ball, at worse. "And why the heck are we even talking about what Mikau eats?! Aren't you curious about what he's doing?!"
"I thought that was the basis for our inquires, Fairy Tatl?" Penny questioned, and now Cardin felt his grin turn into a full smirk. That was pretty funny. "We assumed that he was recovering and therefore pursued a path of conversation that revolved about the assumption of aquatic consumption of nutrients. Do you disagree with this?"
"Of course, I do!" Cardin put a hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing. With his luck, no matter how much it was improving lately, he'd probably be accused of making fun of the pair of fairies, not to mention the kid that they were helping keep watch over. "Weren't you listening to Mikau before! He's getting ready to beat those brats into the ground!" That wasn't as much of a conversation stopper as the fairy hoped it would be.
"That's not exactly surprising to hear," Cardin followed up, barely keeping his laughter in control. "Be kinda weird for Link to stop a fight against just us. I mean, yeah, it's Mikau down there, but he was the one who helped keep that Nightmare off of us for a good part of the fight before. Not the kinda guy to run away from a bunch of fakers, right?" Not that they'd ever admit or be seen as ones now. Not that Cardin could even convince himself Jaune still was, not after what the Arc kid did before.
"Well… aren't you curious?" If she was ringing still, Cardin would be surprised to hear it. Cause right now it sounded a hell of a lot more like she was seething. That… was a stronger possibility. Still funny, just not as funny as Penny getting her angry on accident. "I mean, you're the brats who helped him out before, so aren't you wondering what he's gonna do?"
"As I stated Fairy Tatl, I am still curious, but you are apparently deflecting conversation away from the inquiry and curiosity of Mikau retains Aura levels through water consumption." When the tint of red flashed over the fairy's golden body, Cardin had to turn away. It was impossible to keep a straight face right now. "If you have a more specific answer, I will be sure to document it."
"You're about to see so much more than even you can document in an hour!" The fairy rang out as loud as she could, and because he was turned around, he saw a lot of the Beacon staff and students look at them. He waved his hands, seeing a good number of them roll their eyes. Yeah, he was used to that. The bully being ignored. Had benefits right now though. "Mikau's gonna come out of that water and then-!"
SPLOOOOSH!
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Or shark, or whatever the Faunus was. Fish at least. Whatever, didn't matter.
What did matter, and Cardin paid attention to the moment it happened, was a new column of water that had erupted out of the water. Same as before when the Faunus shot out of the bay before the match, but this time, he couldn't see any blue-scaled fish men flipping through the air. He didn't see anything, except, again, for the column of water that was way above the ballista around the beach. Enough to get a lot of the crowd members holding up their hands. Cardin didn't care, even if the brat at his legs did, hiding behind him.
"GAH!" "WHOA!" the pair of fairies did though, with both Tatl and Tael flying around and under Penny for cover. Not that it was really needed. Huge as the pillar of water was, it wasn't like a knock-up stream or anything like that. Just a freaking jet, like the kind they had in parks. And that meant the water that came back down was more of a mist than anything else.
Still, high as it was and eventual as was its descent, Cardin didn't see a single thing other than water falling. Just a huge stream, the cries of the crowd, and a fine mist falling down. That was it. Nothing else. He squinted, wondering if there was something else that this was supposed to do, a distraction maybe. Mikau wasn't like Impa or anything, strong enough to beat him down without a care, so maybe there was some trickery involved, especially with how hard Nora knocked him into the bay. Maybe…
"Hey! What's that!"
"There he is!"
The cries of the crowd, growing in volume and number, however, pulled him out of it. The tallest member of his team looked around, seeing arms points towards the water again, this time where the water came from. His vision twisted to do the same.
And he saw Mikau there, but far different from before. Because before, he was swimming through the water to keep his gills wet, or so he said something like that, and Tael had made a comment that Zora or whatever liked water because it kept them moist or something weird like that. Thing was though, that was not what he was doing now. No way.
Now, he wasn't swimming in the water. He was standing on it. Standing on the water. Holding up a jewel on his wrist. And carrying that weird fish bone guitar.
Again, standing. On. Water.
So much different than before.
"Oh! I have documents of this!" Penny spoke up. Per the usual, even something breaking the laws of physics, or the few that Cardin could honestly recall, didn't seem to phase her. Then again, after the Nightmare, he'd be surprised if much did him either. "There were many recordings of Mikau previously demonstrating this ability in the Beacon Aquatic Center! He also possessed the designated 'Fish Bone Guitar', or self-labeled Guitar of Waves!"
She was eager, and that was good. But speaking of recordings, there wasn't exactly a shortage of Scrolls out recording the sessions again. JNPR was over on the beach still, watching the Faunus standing on water… walking across it even, and trying to decide what to do. After they had fired all their ammunition at him, minus the grenades, he couldn't blame them. Not exactly something to walk into a plan for.
"However, curious, previous recordings show and specifically give credit to the Zora Sapphire for allowing the opposing force necessary to allow for extreme buoyance across the water surface. Currently missing." Currently what? Cardin's head almost whipped back to the Faunus, and he felt the brat at his legs doing the same, just as she pushed her head through the railings. He didn't need that.
Cardin leaned over the post they were at, staring at the water surface and the blue fish that was, still and easily, standing across it. And he was definitely walking now, no doubt, even holding that fish bone thing like he was getting ready for a song. Thing was… he didn't have that Zora Sapphire on his neck like before. Sure, it wasn't exactly the world's biggest diamond or anything, but it was kind of hard to miss one of the only articles of clothing he was wearing, minus the skirt.
And honestly, Cardin thought the jewelry he was wearing on his wrist was that. But looking at it now… it was only too obvious that wasn't the case.
Problem was, same case didn't tell him what it was… he had no idea.
"If that's not the Zora Sapphire," Cardin spoke aloud, looking at the Faunus as he waved back and forth across the water surface. Screw walking, he was getting ready to dance. "But if it's not… what is that thing?" He asked, honestly hoping someone would answer.
"Analysis currently in affect. Assumptive variables placating required values, functions in full affect, taking in structure of element, securement method, analyzing." Penny spoke in her usual tone, the one she had whenever she was about to sound brainer than Cardin could ever pretend. Russel and Dove talked behind him, them and every other member of the crowd. "Assumption correct, structurally and light refraction analysis places it separate from Zora Sapphire."
"No offense, but a glance kinda shows that," Dove spoke up. "The sapphire is… it was some kinda jewel thing. That? That… I got nothin'." Cardin didn't blame him, at all. "All I got is… it likes a freaking fish scale, but that would be stupid. Before you ask, cause the dudes literally covered in them." He pointed at Penny when he spoke up. He was quick to learn, seeing as Penny looked like she was seconds from stating a question. "Holdin' one in his hands, I don't see that doing anything.
"Of course, you don't. Why would a bunch of Gerudo have much of an idea about Zora artifacts," the fairy let out, rang out, with that same amount of pride she apparently liked to keep tucked away until she had something over them. Cardin took a breath of air, but focused on the Faunus. Like the Nightmare, like the fight, getting angry at jabs didn't solve anything. He had to stop it. "What you got down there is a rare item aged and powered like… like…" Now he looked at her. Did she not know either? That would be hilarious.
"The Golden Scale of the Water Dragon is a sacred relic of the Zora tribes." Her brother rang, however, was usually pretty cool. Mostly cause he rung like a story book, and delivered. "It is said to allow any who wear it to treat the water as their domain, more than a land or air they live on or within. Just as the Ancient Dragon ruled the seas, those who bear his divine scales may be his retainers… o-or that's how the legend goes." And, per usual, the darker fairy stumbled at the end.
"Hell of a relic if that's the case," Cardin spoke up, looking back down to stare at Mikau. He was wearing that scale on his wrist alright, wrapped up in a bunch of chains, and those were wrapped around the crystal ball that actually had the scale. About as elaborate as jewelry got. Hopefully the Schnees didn't take a shining to it or anything like that. "There a fun story for what it does? One that actually makes sense?" He wasn't even going to question where Link, or Mikau, got it from. Not like that mattered. He just wanted to be sure he wasn't going to need to wear his armor like an umbrella.
"You'll just have to watch to find out," Tatl rang up though, far less helpful than she was in the mine. Because of course she was. "You gotta have a guess for what it does already though, right? You can't see what Link's doin' and think that's cause of being a Zora." Actually… he did, at least until Penny pointed out that he wasn't wearing the Zora Sapphire, the thing he told them before helped him walked on water. Well, helped him use his Semblance like a freaking death star laser. This time…
He really wasn't wearing it, just like Penny said. It was just that Dragon Gem Scale on his wrist, the Fish Bone Guitar and… that's it. No collar included and no gem attached.
"Why isn't he using that gem? The blue one?"
"Isn't that what he needed?"
"Where did it go? Did he lose it?"
The crowd, once they got over the fish walking on water, started asking the same question. Or at least a hundred and one different versions of it. Cardin kind of hoped he overheard an answer from someone, specifically a ring, cause ringing meant an answer or a story was coming. Or insults, but he could at least ignore those. Better now at least. Somewhat.
"Why has Mikau abandoned the use of the Zora Sapphire?" Penny, instead, 'inquired' as she put it. Cardin sighed, even as he kept himself leaning over the railing and staring at the Faunus. The girl at his legs was doing the same, even as the pair of fairies circled around them. "Does it have any relation to the Golden Scale of the Water Dragon? Is there a contrast in polarity possible between them? Similar to placing DC circuits too close in line with AC elements?" Cardin had no idea what she was talking about.
"He's not using it cause he can't use it." Well there was a response! Cardin turned to look at the blonde fairy's answer, seeing her swirl in the air with it. "And that's the only answer you're getting out of me, cause you're not going to figure out what he's gonna do next." Still better than nothing. Not that it would stop his team. Since when did they listen to the advice of others… without being beaten into the ground first… that didn't happen anymore.
"Have you ever tried swinging a sword while shooting a bow?" Tatl rang out above him. He glanced at the fairy, but just that. He didn't want to take his eyes off of the Faunus down on the beach… if the freaking water was still considered standing on the beach. "Forget just difficult, it's impossible. And I'm hoping you at least got why I brought that kind of metaphor up." Cardin rolled his eyes with the comment. He wasn't as dense as everyone thought, or acted.
"Cause he's not using the Zora Sapphire, right?" Apparently, Russel was though, or at least was acting like it, hopefully. "You're saying… that the sapphire is the sword and the guitar is a bow, cause that has strings! Or a regular guitar has strings." Ignoring that he was at least able to recognize the giant fish skeleton wasn't a guitar was a small positive, but not one Cardin wanted to dwell on. Russel had the excuse of being a jokester.
"No, I believe the Sapphire is the bow and the guitar is the sword, as it can be operated like one!" Penny didn't have that excuse. It was enough to make the leader of the team let his head drop into his hands. What he wouldn't give for a quip from Sky right now. At least he knew how to turn the dumbassery of the team into a good sense of comedy. Now and then. "One requires both hands to use, but a bow is often said to require more than once sense to use properly, a Semblance in some cases, much like the specified Zora Sapphire."
"I just meant that Mikau can't use them together is all!" Tatl rang out back at them. For once, Cardin was glad she did. Bout this was something to get mad about, and people got scared when he got mad. At least they'd treat the fairy like the VIP she acted like. "Geez, I'm not trying to be difficult here, and you're all asking the worst kinda questions about this!"
"What are the best kind of questions, if I am allowed to inquire?" Cardin was about ready to take back his thought of Penny not being a jokester. She was pretty funny, or at least the high ring that came from Tatl was pretty funny. "Do they still involve Mikau, or are your proposed inquires of high ranking more directed towards the opposing team?"
"No!" Tatl rang out, and Cardin had to look at the crowd around them, seeing a lot of faces glance at them. Everyone from familiar faces around Beacon to foreign students, like the green-haired bob cut girl and her partner. "What you're supposed to be asking is what Link is gonna do with them now!" Actually, Cardin didn't see the point of asking that.
"He's going to play keep-away, ain't he?" Cardin threw out, waving his hand down at the water. Right where Mikau was still walking on the surface, however much sense that made, and strumming down on the fish-bone guitar he had in his hands. He'd heard of turning logs into instruments, but not skeletons. Still creepy. "Just start picking off the rest of JNPR from the safety of the water surface. Ain't like they can just swim out and grab at his heels. He's a fish, so it's not like he's gonna get surprised in the water, right?" Least that seemed pretty smart.
"Well look at you having all the bright ideas." Cardin narrowed his eyes at the blond ball of light. She was entitled to be a little upset, having to deal with dumb questions, but she was putting it on the wrong person. He knew how well that usually turned out. "I'd say you're right, except you keep forgetting something. And don't worry your big head, it's not just you. Even the golem girl over here doesn't get it." Penny flinched at the comment, not that Cardin got why. Prosthetics were pretty damn common around Hunters.
"I have? I thought I had checked the validity of all functions performed through my processes. There were no unsolvable proofs in my data sets." Again, Cardin didn't get what she was saying, but that wasn't the most important thing right now. And actually, he didn't know what was. Oh wait, yeah he did, it was the fight! "Please tell me what variable have I neglected?"
If the fairy was going to talk some more, she didn't get the chance to. Not cause she got knocked out of the air by a blast of water, which would have been pretty funny, and appropriate, but cause something else went of first. Something else a lot louder than her, and that was saying something.
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~~~
And though he wasn't a guitarist himself, Cardin could at least recognize the strum of one, even if it was still stupid how that sound came from a giant fish skeleton, one that didn't even have the cartilage or flesh to hold it together! More stupid questions for later. The big concern right now was the Faunus who had strummed the guitar, and was still standing on water.
He was grinning still, that ridiculously sharp grin. Least it wasn't aimed at him this time. Even better, it was focused on Arc the Lad and the rest of his team. A small part of him could discount the idea of a little catharsis with the payback.
"Sorry 'bout playin' acoustic like that before. Had ta make sure the fingers were still workin' for I started to rip the chords." Mikau's voice was a lot louder, now that the rest of the crowd was dead quiet. No wait… did he say he was playing the whole time before? He was dancing! "Get the best sound under the waves, but I'm gonna do my best to rock them onto the shore. Got any complaints?"
"Yes!" Jaune yelled out without missing a beat. "Can you please explain what you are going to do?!" Cardin honestly wasn't sure if he was embarrassed for Arc or just embarrassed, they were asking the same question. The laughter that came from the Faunus, that rumbling one that sounded like he was speaking out of an engine, probably didn't help.
"Why tell when I can show?" The Faunus spoke up against, his fingers, those long sharp and webbed things, moving up and down the ribs of the fish. At least Cardin thought they were ribs, cause they were attached to the fish's spine and all. "Ha ha, then again, I guess you're gonna be listening to it as well." Anywhere else, it would've been confusion, but seeing as the guy was holding a guitar, of some kind, in his hands… the result was kind of obvious. "But hey, I'll be the split in the reef and tell ya this ain't the climax of any set I've played 'fore, but it sounded good when I was out on the town 'fore, so why not give it a play now?" Out on the…?
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me…" Even the little annoying blonde ball let out a groan of aggravation. That meant she at least knew what was coming. "I thought he spent too much time at that music store. I just didn't figure he'd try and incorporate it into a fight!" Music store? Cardin looked down when he felt something tugging on his leg.
There was the brat, looking up with a bright smile and pointing out at the beach. Considering how tense the mood was, it was kind of a scene ruinner. Then again… if Link, and therefore Mikau, was the one looking out over this kid, and she was excited about what he was going to do, seeing as it involved being out in Vale… she had to have an idea. And she was excited about it.
And, if the second tug meant anything, she wanted a better view.
"May I ask what song it is we are going to… enjoy?" A new question got his attention, even if Cardin was already reaching down to pick the girl up. The last thing he needed was the girl crying and everyone thinking it was his fault, again. She was giggling, almost soundlessly, when the voice spoke up again. "Is it one we will know?" Looked like Lie at least knew the right questions to ask.
"Better hope so~!" Mikau yelled back, his voice sounding like he was practicing a song as well. Or maybe just mocking the wannabe ninja. Could have been either with how the Faunus talked. "Askin' the escort with us, he said it was scrawled and sung by a minnow at this school. In your class, too!" Sung by…
Oh. Oh~
Nothing could stop the grin that split his face. Nothing. Not even the Faunus beginning to strum down the guitar of a fish skeleton. Or the girl that was kicking her legs into his gut while sitting on his shoulder. Cardin was glad he was naturally tall, and he had a girl with the memory of a computer next to him, because this was a moment, he wanted immortalized.
"So, get ready, Loaches!" Mikau yelled out. "Because water reflects like mirrors!"
Weiss was a musician third in her life, if her father and portfolio was to be believed. First and primarily, she was the heir to the Schnee Dust company, both its riches and its influence. Secondarily and penultimately, she was a Huntress in training, prepared and able to combat the Grimm. Though she loved the art of her music, it was never a passion she could pursue beyond the venues her father approved of, not if she wished to keep her other positions in life. So, in the end, it became a question of which to pursue to damage the rest of her the least. Her future, her strength, or her music. It was not a difficult choice.
She still sang when needed to, and often for pleasure, but never in a tour with magnificent other performers or for the glory and cheer of fans. Weiss Schnee only ever sang for wind bags with enough cash to line their clothes or the higher echelons of society desperate to speak with her company at a later time. Not for those interested in the art.
Her songs that were carefully crafted were often appreciated by those she could never meet, and even when she had the chance to do so usually required her to focus more on the other portions of her life, those being the Dust Mining Company or the battle future at Beacon as a Huntress. The high arts she enjoyed to sing for were usually unappreciated and unanswered. That was not to say, however, that it was a pleasure she enjoyed completely alone.
The many instructors her father had given her through the years did far more than merely speak. They cheered for her as she reached notes she previously couldn't and held tempos that would have tired others. They taught her the importance of the different measures of music and celebrated her successes and shows with her. Those and those that followed them were those she enjoyed speaking to the most, about music of course.
Her at Beacon, they were neither near nor present. They were far off memories, much like the Dust Company currently was, so that she could focus completely and solely on her career as a Huntress for the future. As such, those who did know she could sing often did little more than comment on it behind her back, never asking for an autograph, for an album, or even advice. Only ever recognition it was a skill she had, and then nothing else.
It did not insult Weiss, not as directly as an actual insult, much like the title 'Ice Queen' would. However, it did disappoint her. A skill she had spent so long and so many hours dedicated to improving, only to be forgotten beneath the importance of a new skill set she was still growing. It was disheartening feeling, and one she was curious if any others may experience. Again, it was not something she could easily speak or inquire about.
Mikau of the Zora, however, did not appear to have that problem.
Though she retained her posture far better than the first time she had seen him, thanks to the preparation and knowledge that JNPR had challenged him, it was still far from possible to ignore his high sense of masculinity, confidence, and charm. Not the sleezy charm that came with showing off jewels or fame, but the naturally kind that so many around Weiss lacked. And by many, she meant all, looking towards said leader of JNPR.
The fish-scaled Faunus, practically glowing on the beach front, fighting with a smoothness and tempo that matched the waves he emerged from, was a sight to behold. A grin that showed complete ease for his craft, a cheer that came from the same confidence to match, and most of all, the friendly nature with which he offered those around him, far from disrespectful or mocking. Complete opposite of belittling.
Once more, Weiss was far more than used to those a generation older than her speaking down to her, appreciating her skills as things that she had either been given or was merely toying with. None of them saw them as skills she had honed and crafted, and often spoke of them as such. Mikau spoke to others without such a way. He naturally asked for things without directing towards a face in the crowd, he casually answered questions asked in even absurd manners, and he did his utmost to both entertain and please. But above all, it was because he didn't do it for others.
He did all of this for himself. Weiss could tell, because she could think of no other reason for a man or Faunus to be so joyous or cheerful, given the history with which he explained, unless he was pursuing something he enjoyed. Because though the Zora Faunus had similarities to Weiss that she was proud to admit, the cheer he had was one-to-one in comparison to Ruby Rose when the topic of weapons was breeched. The cheer in the midst of danger was uncanny.
What was truly unbelievable, however, was the course of action the Faunus was taking. Though she suspected there would be another means for combat beyond his detachable fins, odd as that was biologically speaking, she did not think it would involve his guitar. Though she had no complaints. At all, even if her composure was strained for it with memories from the last time, she had seen him with it. No, what, Weiss Schnee found beyond the realm of possibility was the hint of what the Zora spoke of was to come.
He promised a song, and he spoke of mirrors.
Weiss looked to her elder sister, seeing Winter just as enthralled as she was. Well, perhaps not as much, but her big sister was looking down at the match with hands gripped firmly on the guard rails before them. She had gone to the Monument Mine with Link and, though she had likely not seen Mikau there, she had gotten close to her Faunus Instructor for it. During their exertion yesterday, he was a conversation they had spoken kindly and at length about. One of many, between schooling, arts, family, military, and the future, but one nonetheless.
Her same sister that had suddenly become so warm since returning from the Mine. Speaking to her without complete queries towards her progress in life, more of curiosity then a report. Her sister who was standing out of uniform, in a gown more similar to Weiss's own than that of the Atlesian Specialist attire, and doing all of this without care for appearance. Much more beyond what was appropriate, Weiss should amend.
In those conversations, however, her elder sister spoke of how Link always kept a sense of dedication and memory common across all the friends he wore. Be it Darmani, whom Weiss had not met, Impa, whom Weiss had spoke warmly of, or Link himself, who Weiss had not heard speak at all, Link was someone she could tell Winter admired. Be it for his skills as a hunter, as a Faunus, as a living being, she didn't know. But she knew that her sister and her shared admiration for the man… though hers was a bit different for Mikau, slightly.
"Weiss," Winter spoke quietly before looking towards her. She turned only to see Weiss already staring up at her. "He spoke of a song he heard in town, in Vale. A song that involved Mirrors, and one recently. Sung by someone attending this academy, currently." Her sister put the pieces on the board, hoping to fill in the gaps. Weiss was already aware of the possible answer she was looking for.
"Mirror Mirror," Weiss whispered, even if the rest of the crowd was deathly silent. "My song, my… the song I san before I left Atlas." It seemed far too implausible to be the truth. It was just the random and wild guessing in her head.
Yes, that had to be it. Even if her sister's equally curious eyes implied, she thought the same, it couldn't be. There were many songs about mirrors and, like was true, there were very few if no one who listened to her music in the common city streets. Only the higher 'tiered' members of society. Not the common folk who ran shops for goods.
BRRUUU- BRRUUU- BRRUUU- BRRUUUUUUU- BRRUUUUUU- BRRUUUUUUUUUUU
Any idea of that being true was rapidly dashed as the beat began to reach her ears. Because it was a beat she knew very well, from weeks to months, of hard practice.
Her eyes were trained on the chiseled form of Mikau, still breaking her previously well-established rules of physics by walking across the water. His fingers, long and tipped but webbed between, strummed at the true vertebrae of the fish-bone guitar, even as his other hand slowly traveled down the neck of the beast he held, forcing the notes to fall in kind. The same manner by which the same measure was played on a piano.
"It's a slow song at first, really gets you calm and settles the breeze comin' in to shore." Mikau spoke as his fingers continued to strum across the guitar. Weiss didn't dare look away for long, glancing down only to ensure that JNPR was not about to interrupt him. Pragmatic as Ren and Pyrrha were, she suspected they might. "And swimmin' in fair waves, kinda the sorta songs I prefer listenin' to." Her eyes practically whipped back towards the water-walking Faunus.
"H-Huh?" Weiss let out weakly. He… he preferred her songs? She leaned in over the railing, careless of the people whispering around her. That was normal for a Schnee. Her sister was doubtlessly trying to inquire about the same matters.
BRRUUU- BRRUUU- BRRUUU- BRRUUUUUUU- BRRUUUUUU- BRRUUUUUUUUUUU
"Puts you into a mood ta let the waves guide you. Makes you feel like you're not just listenin' ta someone put out a few words in a set, but actually put their soul on the line. Kinda thing ya need if you wanna conquer the waves and beats of the ocean." Weiss was feeling hot at the moment, and her increasing temperature certainly wasn't assisted by the lax grin that Mikau was holding. Not even by the snickering she heard coming from behind her.
That… that chiseled and masculine Faunus, standing water and strumming her song. A song that was meant to be played with a finely tuned keyboard not, the most natural, by definition, instrument possible. Even if he made the notes rumble through her with the grace of a keyboard, silencing a crowd that listened to them. Was he not talking, maybe they would be silent as well?
"Gotta admit, kinda wish the first time I was playin' this was on a stage or hollowed reef instead. Perfect place to get the acoustics just right." He continued to speak, his boots remaining atop the water as he walked with the guitar in his hand. Even if Weiss hesitated to use that words loosely, it certainly benefited above being played on some truly cobbled together instrument. "Then again, plenty a' minnows watchin, and it'd be a splash in shallow waters to not give it all I got."
BRRUUUUUUU- BRRUUUUUU- BRRUUUUUUUUUUU… BRRUUU- BRRUUU- BRRUUU
The pace was picking up, and Weiss found her hands tight on the handles in front of her. Winter had to be doing the same, or showing some concern, but that was unimportant right now. Blasphemous as the words sounded even in her mind, Weiss knew them to be true. She needed to focus on her song being played through the guitar, and the team that was waiting some distance away along the beach arena for the picture of masculinity to approach.
"Miiiiiiiirrroooooooooor~." And then the voice! That voice. That same vibrating and pitch altering voice that was singing her song! There was no more denying it, it was her song! It was her song and it was… it was being sung by a Faunus taller than any other man, with scales to match aquatic beasts, and playing a guitar made of a corpse, standing on water, and singing a cover of her song. "Tell me sooooomthiiiiiing."
"What the heck is that!"
"Are you seeing that!"
"Weiss… behind him."
Though the crowd was erupting around her, and Weiss had kept her focus on the Faunus who continued to strum on a guitar s if they were keys on a piano, she was drawn from his visage by her sister's light touch and call. The same one she had used to greet and chat with her in Vale some days before… and now was directing her towards the water the Faunus stood on.
Water from the Vale bay that wasn't acting like water in a bay. Not at all. Though she was far from any expert, even a child who had glanced at an ocean could tell that the stillness around Faunus was far from natural. And that was what the water was. Still. Still, clear, and with the reflection of light falling from the sky, perfectly reflective.
In other words… a mirror.
"You must be joking with me," Weiss mumbled, looking towards Winter if only to confirm her elder sister was witnessing the same act as she was. By the unsure look she returned to her, it seemed likely. Highly implausible, if not impossible, but still likely. And that only confused Weiss all the more. "I thought… I thought he could control lightning as his Semblance? Now water?"
"Perhaps its not him," Winter quickly spoke, though she did not take her hand off of Weiss's shoulder. She did not ask her to. "The Faunus Link has demonstrated that several of his tools can simulate other Semblances, be it the creation of fire, wind, seeds to instill hurricanes or speed… perhaps his guitar is doing this now." It was conjecture, but one that Weiss found herself latching onto, except for one key difference.
"I-I think you're right," she easily agreed with her sister. "But… it's not the guitar. He played it for us, the class, before and… and it didn't do anything then, except sound nice. This is… this isn't it." Unless it was some kind of reality warping instrument, but if that was the case, ludicrous as it was, she couldn't think of any reason for him not to use it?
And how odd it was that Link's presence, and the demonstration of his skills, had led her and her sister, likely to the point where she even thought of such possibilities.
"Tell me whoooose the looooneliiiiiest of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll~." Though, honestly, if Weiss was speaking of criticism, she had very little for the song itself.
Though clearly a complete departure to her piano and near acapella melodies, Mikau was doing a superb job adapting the score to his guitar. Though she preferred her pristine outfit when performing, meant to show off her elegance and the song she sang, the display of his… masculinity and charm did well for the chords of his guitar and rumble of his voice. It was the thing she had the fewest complaints or criticisms about. Rather, only curiosities if he'd be interested in a duet in the future…
That was before, however, she saw something rising out of the 'mirror' he stood on. And rise was not an improperly used term. The crowd around them was anything but silent, even if Weiss and Winter were dead as the night as they both took in the sight. Because, again, thought Weiss had seen many impossibilities around Link both through him and in causation of him, this was simply another alien action she had to study.
Because there was a clear difference between forcing the water and waves of a bay to calm down, and then forcing them to rise like columns of stone.
"Miiiiiiirrooooooor, tell me sooooomthiiiiiing,~" Mikau's voice continued to sing, as if he did not notice the water around him. With how sharp his smile was, fluid his motions, and blue his eyes… Weiss doubted that was the case. He knew, and he was controlling them. Though for what? "Tell me whoooose the looooneliiiiiest of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll ~."
BRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-
He finished strumming on the guitar, letting the waveforms of the plucked ribs dissipate and return to their natural frequency. His arms were outstretched, probably just to show off the sheer length he had behind them. Weiss didn't doubt he could scoop her up easily with one muscled arm and continue to play on his guitar… not that she was too curious about experiencing that. The rest of JNPR were rather curious to, with Nora stepping up and holding her hammer in its launcher form. Though she was preoccupied with studying the Zora, she could at least admit it was a better form to keep, seeing the distance Mikau had put between them.
"Not used to doin' solo acts, not really my thing. Takes a lot outta me, ya know? Havin' ta track where everyone is, and the notes, and makin' sure I don't miss the beats." Mikau was speaking again, not singing. Was… was that the end of him singing her song? She rather wished not, because she wanted to see where else it could go. "But I aim ta please, and scale-dried sun or gill wetting monsoon, there ain't a good reason to skip an act."
"Is he speaking of performing? Does he not see this is a duel?" Winter asked. Her hand was still on Weiss shoulder, as if to steady herself. Weiss still had no complaints. Though she also had no answer for the query. "I can see his nature is far different than Link's, but is it truly over writing his?" That was a curiosity Weiss did not thing was true.
"No, a-at least I don't think so," Weiss spoke, somehow managing to tear her eyes away from the water-standing, pillar-creating, song-covering, masculine Zora. "Sometimes he… Link, speaks through Mikau and their voices change. And… they both recall memories of one another so… no I don't believe so." Winter nodded at her words, opening her mouth to speak again.
"So why don't we see what lasts the longest, huh?" Only to shut it as Mikau spoke on. Weiss whipped her head back to watch as well. She was unsurprised to see the Zora. "A song of the seas, or your team's agility." Weiss had no idea what that meant. At all.
Bruu-Bruu- Bruu- Bruu- Bruu- Bruu- Bruu- Bruu-Bru-Bru-Bru-Bru-Bru-Bru
She didn't have much time to ponder, as the song was picking up again.
"Miiiirrrrooooooorrrrr~," Mikau's voice sang again. Weiss watched him for a moment, ignoring the pillars of water that churned with his chords and doubtlessly voice. She watched him roll his head back, letting the length of mass that somehow qualified as a fin swing with the motion, showing the strength of his bare abs and the flexion of his muscles. "What's insiiiiiide of meeeeee?" Weiss wasn't able to watch him for long.
Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom
Not when she finally saw ripples forming in the previously still water again, all emanating out from where Mikau stood. In time with the heel of his boot lifting and stomping on the water like… like the bass pedal of a drum. IT seemed so odd to hear for a song like hers… but with his guitar cover, it flowed so well. It, ironically, wasn't the only thing that flowed. Not when the water around him was twisting all the same.
Because those weren't static pillars anymore, even dripping water like the condensation of air. It was… they were thinning out as they grew taller and… bending over themselves? Where those appendages?
"Nora! Get back!"
Pu-BOOOM!
Weiss turned almost in time to see Nora running towards the beach, having already fired a shot from her launcher into the limbs that surrounded Mikau. And just in time to see one hit one of the mass of limbs and explode within. Weiss was familiar with the science of a depth charge, the rapid and high pressure of water expanding out, strong enough to crack the hulls of submarines and kill nearly all aquatic life.
Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom
When the airborne grenade exploded within the tentacle that Mikau was controlling through his constant chords, it also fell apart, for a moment. And just a moment.
Just as quickly, the water that he was standing on, either manipulated into a still 'mirror' or rippling puddle, quickly pushed more of the liquid back up and into the limb, filling out the strong mass of water once again. A mass that was far taller, more sinister, despite its blue hue, and now pointing menacingly at the girl that had shot at it.
"NORA!" Jaune yelled again, and Weiss was agreeing with the boy. The girl was out of her element, even if she was the most destructive and effective currently on the team. It didn't matter for much if she couldn't reach her target, though Mikau was her for more than a reason of victory.
Pu-BOOOM! Pu-BOOOM! Pu-BOOOM!"C'mon! I'm just adding a bit more bass to the beat!" Her wording was horribly misconstrued, but her true intention was much easier to read.
She rapidly fired her grenades at the warping appendages, but to no avail. They hit, they fell inside. They exploded and the strumming and beat of Mikau's guitar replaced them. Maybe it was the guitar, maybe it wasn't, but it was doubtlessly Mikau doing it. And the sharp grin he had said it all.
"Tell me can a heaaaaaaart be tuuuuuuuurned to stooooooooonnnnnee.~" Yet somehow, that said far more. If not because of the words themselves, and what Weiss knew what they meant, then because of what they did.
"Dang it NORA!" She could tell if it was Ren or Jaune who yelled now.
Not above the roar of the falling water.
And that was what it was, or at least the only way that Weiss could find herself possibly describing it! Several masses of the water pillars that had thinned and extended rushed towards Nora as if they had come from the flooded buoyancy chambers of an aircraft carrier! She was completely enveloped by the water in a moment's notice, a blink of an eye, swallowing a large section of the beach with her! The crowd gasped and pointed and yelled, but Weiss only stared as she gripped the rails and Winter continued to hold her shoulder. For her support or her own, she didn't know, and didn't care to ask.
Bruu-Bru-Bru-Bru-Bru-Bru-Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Because with another series of strums, the water was lifted from the beach. No, not lifted. That implied moving something gently.
This was not that. This was as if a ballista was fired.
Because with another roar of water, the column of liquid was shot over the Zora's head, even as he continued to grin and play the fish-bone guitar of his, voice humming through his gills, though barely heard with the water rushing around him. And then… something else was over him. Or thrown over him more liked.
Like it was whipped up and over him, flung through the air like a pebble over a lake. A small object that Weiss was very well aware of, in sight only because it was her bright orange against the back drop of a blue sky. Her hammer was in her hand, and she was flailing, but that was all that she could do.
"Nora Valkyrie is out." The words spoken by Ms. Goodwitch were delivered like the alarm in the early morning. Jarring, but effective. Weiss's head shook momentarily as she, again, tried to right what she was seeing.
Mikau was standing on water. The same. He was playing that implausible fish-bone guitar. The same. He was playing her song. Audible que, but the same. He had used her song, a song about trying to find herself through staring at a mirror and finding anything but her imperfections… and he was using to… to do something. She didn't even know if properly describing the actions of the water were a normal or possible thing, at least to be done with a straight and unflushed face!
"That's insane. He's insane!"
"He can literally control the water! How are you supposed to stop that? Become a fish?!"
"Would that even help?"
"JNPR is just screwed now!"
Weiss found herself either agreeing or at the very least passively curious of their words. They were not wrong. Far from it. How was one supposed to best a man, a Zora, that had the ability to manipulate water like that? With his charisma, and confidence, and… all of that, it didn't seem like something that could be handled easily, if at all!
There had to be an answer, even if only to understand why Link and Mikau didn't begin with this tactic. JNPR, or everyone minus Nora, were doing the same. Spread out still, yelling, barely heard above the roar of the bay and the song, her song, and the crowd. There had to be something, and she wanted to find the answer.
"His Aura decreased." Just barely, and barely truly at that, Weiss was able to twist her head to look at her sister. Winter was looking down at her scroll, gazing between it and the battle far beneath them. When had she pulled it out? No, that was not the appropriate question at the moment. "When he played our song, when he applied a form of aquatic control, His Aura noticeably dipped because of it. I'd estimate 4-5%." That was not an insignificant number.
Weiss didn't need to ask for her sister's scroll to see. Winter angled it towards her, showing the clear change in the levels on the screen. She had remembered well where Nora's hit, singular and strong, had put Mikau before. Now? It was a hair lower. From the light-yellow region beneath acceptable levels and slowly dragging into the mid-hue that was bordering dangerous. Still off from critical, but nearer.
"He's… just beneath 40% away from critical levels," Weiss noted. "Not dramatic but… certainly unsustainable." And her words answered her own curiosity with wide eyes. "That's why he cannot continue to use this method of attacking. It literally drains him."
"I agree," Winter nodded. "Requiring a source of water, heavily taxing on the spirit, it is far from an effective means for attack… normally." Her eyes turned back towards the water as she watched on. "But this is not a normal fight, not anymore." Weiss agreed.
This wouldn't be a fight. This really would be a race, and she didn't know if she was excited or terrified to see what was going to happen. It was always difficult to tell when Mikau was involved. If nothing else, at least she knew the time frame that JNPR had to work with.
Bru-Bru-Bru-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br
Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom
It was her song being used as the clock.
Duels in Mistral were far different than this. They always were. Though the regulations and format of Beacon's student matches were eerily close to those of the professional circuit, they differed enough that they still required mental reminders so she wouldn't cross any lines. She fought as a team, not an individual. There were no times, and therefore nothing to pace herself with. And there were potential fighters watching, not sponsors.
But more than that, it was impossible to know whom you were facing the day prior, not without access or promises from Ms. Goodwitch. Far different than the days to weeks preparation that was so common in the normal circuit. Pyrrha knew all of this from the moment she set foot in Beacon, but she did not expect these fights to change so rapidly when the Hunter Link became a potential foe to duel. It was not something she complained about. Rather, it was something she was excited for.
Link was a foe that she knew was far above her level, both for his experience, his age, and multitude of different friends that assisted him. He was both an enigma and an opponent she was looking forward to one day facing, even if it would be outnumbered against him, something that she never believed she'd be willing to do unless forced to by circumstances around her.
But after Impa, one of his friends, had trounced an android, at least known know to be one, without so much as a flick of her wrist, Pyrrha knew that even training from dawn to dusk would not be enough for her. She wasn't strong enough alone. She had her teammates to help her, however, and they were all skilled with what she was not.
The brutal strength that Nora so often employed, the mysterious movements and calming aura that Ren was keen to offer and share, and even Jaune's analytical mind, finding weak points through logic and observations of his opponents, more than once assisting her where she otherwise would have been battled to exhaustion. They were all precious to her, and so valuable to her.
It was why, once Link had gifted Jaune his Mirror Shield, on the suspicion of costing him his family heirloom, she was not surprised to hear Jaune suggest challenging Mikau to a fight, seeing as they had not one, but two means to counter his electricity, and only one he knew about. It was a point that she agreed was sound to follow, creating a distraction with a known danger to hide another. With the assistance of Ren and his ability to create distractions and mask intents, it was a good idea.
Pyrrha didn't have time to think or ponder once the fight started. She rarely did. She only focused on fighting Mikau alone, with Ren keeping him from truly separating himself from the fins that he used like boomerangs, always keeping them nearby to defend himself. And it worked, if also confirmed her ideas of his strength.
Be it Link or Mikau she was fighting, they kept pace and matched her with a surely practiced ease. They wore no metal for her to bend, the gold of his jewelry non-magnetic, and the range he kept making her enter his field of attack far before she could enter his. It was outside her advantage. But again, it was why she was gifted with friends.
And Jaune's plan to charge Nora's Semblance with Mikau's own worked well, extremely so. The judges at a competition may have used the move as a deciding point in favor of a draw, given its execution and effectiveness. That, again, was if this was a duel for the competitive circuit. For the umpteenth time Pyrrha had to remind herself this was not. The only difference was this time, she had to remind herself while she was in said fight.
For there were no rules stating that Link could not use the water that was inbounds of the arena like a mass of appendages, and even fewer stating that there would be a penalty for it. And, very assuredly, there were none in either the pro circuit or the Beacon duels to suggest that ringing out a foe was inappropriate.
She just didn't expect said ring out to be well over a hundred times the acceptable distance away, if the dot that was Nora could be measured quickly.
"Nora!" Ren yelled out again, and his panic was justified. Pyrrha almost fell into it herself, but she forced herself to calm down. Ren could do the same, she knew he could, but much like students who see their first Grimm, he was panicked to see his friend in such a state.
"Ren! Ren! It's okay!" She yelled to him. "If Nora was in danger, Ms. Goodwitch would have called the match! Mikau would have!" She didn't dare ask him for a confirmation now. He was a professional, and Pyrrha would not give him the opening to attack. "She'll be okay, because she was at full Aura! We need to focus!" The words got through to him, just as she knew they would. Ren was the controlled member of their team. So, with a few flashes across his Aura, his Semblance working, his breathing calm and voice stilled.
"You're right… thank you Pyrrha." She nodded, turning her head back towards the Faunus that was so much more of a threat then she originally gauged, and she already thought very highly of him.
"You don't need to thank me, especially not now." She spoke up harshly. Too harshly. "I-I'm sorry, I just… I don't know how we can beat him, with our current position." A position that resulted from them all being out of ammunition, the only member who kept a mid-range tool now knocked out of the match, and the rest of them completely unable to reach Mikau normally, and now an impossibility with him standing in the mouth of the bay with aqueous tentacles protecting him. "If there was… I'd do it, but… but I don't see anything." This wasn't another duelist she could plan for, this was the border between the impossibility of a professional Hunter and a dream.
If there was a way, Pyrrha would have loved to hear it.
"We can out last him," Pyrrha looked at Jaune, quickly, seeing him holding the shield at his side. He probably realized it would do little against the torrent of water, unlike the lightning from before. But out last him? That? "I know we can do it. I know it." The confidence was appreciated, but it was not enough.
"Jaune," Pyrrha began. If there was a timer, perhaps but-
"He's losing Aura when he's playing like that." Pyrrha shut up quickly. She was also fortuned she was looking at him, as she caught the Scroll, he lightly tossed to her. Her eyes flickered back towards Mikau, ensuring he was not seconds away from attacking them again. He was still playing chords down the guitar of his, but that only implied the inevitable was soon. "His Aura dropped when he attacked Nora like that, not a lot, but some. And some is better than none. So, if we wait long enough at some, it'll become too much, right?"
Pyrrha ignored the hint of desperation in his voice, instead glancing very quickly at the Scroll in her hands. She looked at the Zora's Aura level, comparing it to what she believed it was before. It had dropped, just as Jaune said. And again, just like he said, not a lot, but some. Enough for her to believe outlasting the Zora was possible, if only to make an opening possible.
It was no different than the Semblance of some other duelists that was dependent upon the amount of materials they had on hand. They would over tax it, leave themselves open, and then make her victory assured. This was like that… only on a much larger scale.
"I agree with Jaune's plan!" Ren yelled from some distance away across the beach. He was, justifiably, treating every wet patch of sand like molten material. "It may sound drastic, but I believe there is validity to it! Mikau did imply that we may out last him as well!" Her eyes widened at the reminder. Mikau had said that.
"I told that show-off to keep his jaw shut!" The sound of Tatl ringing, for it was a rather recognizable sound, was further evidence to the cause. She pitied Cardin and his team for having to endure such a shout, one that reached them audibly from the distance away they stood, but that was a concern for later. For now…
"Yeah! Yeah! We can do that!" Jaune kept up. He lifted his shield again. "We can do this! It can't be worse than the Nightmare, right?" The reminder was enough to put a perspective to the match. One that Pyrrha was unsure was appropriate, but done so nonetheless.
Between an amphibious Faunus who had an impressive level of hydridic control to an Ancient Grimm that could craft world from memories? The different was rather clear which was to be feared more. And what was more, they had beaten the more fearsome of the threats. Therefore… Jaune was right. At least Pyrrha had her teammates with her this time.
"Okay… Okay!" Pyrrha spoke, psyching herself up just as her mother had taught her to do before. She raised Milo pointing it even if she had little intention of using it. "I'm with you all!" And she would be, no matter what. Perhaps Mikau heard her, perhaps not, but what she did now was that he took it as some kind of sign to continue.
Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-BruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Because the music was starting again!
"Mirror~ Mirror~, what's behind you?~" In time with the words, the watery pillars began to move again.
"SCRAMBLE!" Pyrrha adhered to Jaune's command. She wasn't foolish enough to think it was cowardice. In the face of a Faunus controlling the ocean, it made perfect sense.
Especially when the water tendrils began to sweep across the beach, their masses growing in tandem with their lengths. Like the smoke from a fired barrel, in a perpendicular plane, they twisted up the shore. It was already difficult to move well with the sand so loose compared to solid ground, but Pyrrha wouldn't, couldn't let that stop her. She swung Milo as she jumped out of the projected path of the pillar that ran after her. It was enough to swing her momentum, pushing her out of the way. It was what was necessary, to make he swing out of the way, and it worked.
Like a true torrent, the pillar of water shot passed her, nearly soaking her uniform as she avoided the attack. But she was not silly enough to hold still. She flipped over the pillar of water, remembering what it had done to Nora, and not a moment before it tried to swallow her with another of its attacks. She landed opposite its grasp, immediately sprinting away.
"Save me from theeeeeee thing's I've seeeeeeeen!~" Mikau kept singing, because the song was far from over and his Aura had a path it still had to follow. She'd check his Aura in a bit, possibly, if she had time!
"GAH!" But from the pained cry she heard, she knew she didn't.
"Ren!" Pyrrha turned in time to see Ren being swallowed around his chest by a pillar of water. Quickly, she realized it was another one to the one that chased him, a secondary pursuer. The difficulty that arose when facing multiple opponents. She did not have time to wonder. She thought of any techniques that could sever the pillar of water enough to free him, remembering how quickly it reformed when Nora's explosive rounds hit it.
Her time to think was all the time she had, however. With another debilitatingly quick show of force, the pillar rose up above the beach, carrying the spray of water with it. Pyrrha looked around herself to ensure she was not similarly being pursued before continuing her run towards Ren. He was not crying out, perhaps hoping to retain his strength. But it was a useless endeavor.
Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom Mikau's boot continued to hit the water, and it was like the sign to drop a hammer.
Or in this case the weights holding up the column of water.
BOOOOM! A shower of sand and water erupted, enough to cover Pyrrha. She raised her hands to keep the torrent of the material from truly encapsulating her, realizing only then that perhaps it would protect her from Mikau's aquatic tendrils. But that was a secondary concern. Her primary concern was Ren!
"Lie Ren is out due to Aura Depletion." Ms. Goodwitch's voice caught through the song and boom in the air. Pyrrha panicked.
'From a single drop?!' Her mind corrected itself, even as her senses for battle returned. It wasn't a drop that did Ren in, it was a throw. From stories into the air, the column of water had slammed him into the sand, so far that Pyrrha didn't have time to check on him. He would be okay… or else Ms. Goodwitch would have intervened.
But the force oft hose tendrils were great enough to throw perhaps miles out into the Bay. That same force into the immediate sand… it couldn't have been light.
"I can keep it from the woooooooorld!~" But the song was still going!
Pyrrha kept up her dance of evasion, watching now even more pillars of water that chased her. She was worried about Jaune, the two of them the last of their team in the green to endure Mikau, and they had to do so if they wanted to win. Close was not a judgement that mattered. Only victory, or in this case endurance.
She ducked beneath a tendril that shout at her, in tune with the guitar that Mikau continued to play. It nearly took off her chest plate, forcing her to watch the column of water pass over her like she was the underside of a river. Knees in the sand, back nearly the same, and water towering over her. The implication of it was hit her fast.
Pyrrha rolled, as fast and agile as she always was, before flipping out of the sand. Her hands pushed hard enough to force a near jump into the air, high enough to avoid the same tendril of water whipping past her. Clearly it wanted to knock her out of the ring, and she just had to avoid it, however long she could.
"He's losing fast, Pyrrha!" Said champion looked over at the voice, seeing Jaune waving his Scroll as he held up his shield. His shield that… the water avoided? Why!? "He's only got 20% left! We can do this!" A question for later, Jaune's declaration was key!
"Why won't you let me hide from meeeeeeeee?~" As was the coming attack that Mikau. Not that Jaune saw it!
"JAUNE!" Pyrrha yelled out, a moment too late.
Because in that moment, timed almost suspiciously well with the strum of the Zora's guitar, one of the tendrils, lengthened and thinned until it was no bigger than her arm, snacked around her partner's leg. She had time to see the panic in his eyes, even as she ran forwards towards him, before he was dragged into the air and lifted like a toy. The idea of it alone was nerve racking.
BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM! The uptick in tempo that came from the beating water was worse. Pyrrha desperately wished she had some kind of weapon or ammunition to throw or fire, but she had nothing on her, even as she continued to avoid the tendrils that so clearly wanted to encapsulate her!
So she could do nothing as she watched Jaune be flung around in the air, spun like a child's wind-up toy. He was being thrown around on an object so high above her head, so malleable to match, and already outnumbering her by near dozens now, that Pyrrha knew there was little to nothing she could realistically do. She wanted to, desperately, to help her partner who had come up with these ideas in the first place! But she couldn't.
"WHooooAAAAA-" CRASH! So, she could do nothing but scream when Jaune was flung into the higher roads that were above the beach, in time with the pained cries of the crowd.
"JAUNE!" She yelled her partner's name, still never taking her eyes off of the tendrils around her, never forgetting that the battle was still raging around her. She couldn't, or else she would insult her lessons and instructors, and not to mention her teammates who had tried to endure this onslaught with her!
"Jaune Arc is disqualified due to Aura Depletion," Ms. Goodwitch monotonously spoke again, and Pyrrha thanked a star int eh sky that it was not due to a snapped bone. She wouldn't have been surprised if there had been one. Her thanks could come later, much later. After she endured whatever was to come next.
Next from the Zora who still stood over the water, dragged back as it was, with water tendrils rising up into the air, far longer and with greater mass she ever realistically thought plausible, and playing a song she knew belonged to Weiss, though she doubted her friend would mind. She focused on the foe in front of her.
Him, his voice, and the smile he held as he continued to play.
"Miiirrooooor, Miiiirroooooorrrr,~ Teeeeeeelll me sooooomeethiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGGG~." Pyrrha stood far and away as she witnessed the Zora commit would could only be his final attack for her. Desperation moves were not uncommon in most duels, circuit or otherwise, but Link, and by extension Mikau, were professionals far older than her. They would not make a desperate move unless it truly was their last. And because of it, it would have to be strong.
Strength, in this case, meant number and size.
Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-BruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-Br-BruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Because Pyrrha watched the water rise out of the Bay wat a volumetric rate that was far beyond anything natural. Even in the natural direction of the reverse, a waterfall, the amount of water rising would be far beyond it! She could see the Bay nearly emptying at the speed the water was rising, and she was forced to stand on the dry sands and watch.
Watch as the water pillars grew to numbers and height far above and beyond what she could possibly be expected to handle, towering over her comparable to the buildings of Vale. Massive was not nearly a proper enough description of them, and she had seen the giants in the desert crafted by the Nightmare.
She… may have been getting ahead of herself. They certainly weren't a comparison to those beasts, just as Jaune had told and explained to her before, but they were certainly in the realm of comparison now. Smaller, thinner, and doubtlessly weaker, but still there to be seen. Monstrous things that towered over her, controlled by something that acted as if it were beyond them, and smiling at the madness it created.
She gripped her shield and lance as she focused on the enemy, both of them so clearly at their limits.
"I'm the looooonlieeeest ooooooooooofffff aaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll….~" Pyrrha watched as Mikau sang, keeping her distance even as the lyrics rumbled. Rumbled like the waves and pillars around him and…
And watched them start to fall.
They were literally falling, like columns and structures of towering might in movies that she'd watch with her teammates and RWBY, watching as the almost monolith proportions of water began to slam down on the beach, turning up the sand like the streams of water from a cannon, making her raise her shield and run back to avoid being crushed under the falling weight.
There were screams around her as she did this, from the crowd realizing this was far worse than just a mist from a singular vertical pillar. Columns of water dense and heavy enough to fling her teammates across the beach and into the bay, and she was dodging them as they fell out of the sky like puppets with cut strings. She did so, but only partially.
FWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHSHSHSHSSSHSH
She felt plasters of water hit her back and wet her hair as she run, the sand beneath her becoming uneven as she kept up her pace, rapidly trying to escape the onslaught of what felt like now to be Mikau's final attack. All she could do was run, no defenses left to her to possibly endure the might of that water hitting her, not with even the chance of it flinging her into the Vale Bay. She had to run, and she kept running. Faster and faster, over and over, making sure the unevenness of the ground didn't obstruct her.
Until finally, like the final crack of thunder in a storm, it came to a stop. She turned around when the pressure of the falling water was lifted, panting heavily at that. She was some distance away from Mikau now, the entirety of the beach almost, but she could see the ruined nature of the sand all the same. Like the fingers of a giant had clawed its way out of the surface with a great pull of its hand, dragging what it could back into the water. And maybe that was what happened, seeing how tall Mikau was.
Mikau… the Faunus that was on his knees still, letting his guitar lay on the sand at his feet… Pyrrha didn't waste the chance. She couldn't. She readied Milo, holding the lance parallel with her body and aiming towards the Zora. Without a small grunt of effort, she threw her weapon forward, letting it fly with all the accuracy she had to catch Jaune back during initiation.
TWANG! "GAH!" And she was rewarded with a vibrating cry from the Zora, in time to see his fin knocked aside.
It was good, great, but she didn't know if it was enough. She wanted a hit that meant something but… but could this work? She didn't have her weapon to swing, but she could still use her hands and legs. She could still kick. And with how exhausted the musician was, she still had a chance. It was either chance this let the sacrifices of her team be in vain!
Nora who was flung into the Bay and… was currently dragging herself to shore. Ren, who was pile driven into the sand outside the ring and… was pulling himself free with a groan. Jaune who was slammed into the stone face of the higher balconies and… was slowly falling free. Okay, they weren't in any major harm, but she still needed to win.
Pyrrha began to run again, lunging more than running as she did so. She had to reach the Zora, reach him and jump on him and kick him or… do something that would mean her team would-
"That's it. I give." Her feet ground into the sand to stop herself. It took her a moment to actually stop. And when she did, she was standing maybe only a few yards away, unarmed, and looking down at Mikau who was sitting back on the sand, panting just as heavily as she was. "Always did say the solo acts don't last, and figures you got team members like yours, a school that knows who ta keep swimming up stream when the tide starts to rip."
"W-What?" Pyrrha asked. Something didn't seem right. "I-I apologize, but… but I believe I misheard you. Did you say…" She led off, still unsure she had heard the Zora correctly. It just seemed, unreal to hear. He rolled his head around, the long length of his dorsal fin moving with it.
"I said I'm beat." Mikau raised his hand waving it and the fin that she had managed to hit him with Milo. She'd have to find her lance late… no, wait!
"B-beat?" She heard Jaune ask from his… imprint in the wall. He was lowering himself, looking at the Faunus with the same nervous trepidation that Pyrrha had. "Beat as in… you're saying…" The meaning was singular, but Pyrrha had the same sense of unease about it. It just seemed, too impossible.
Link, Mikau even, the Faunus that were doing things that were at the extreme ends of Semblance manipulation, near elemental control, and doing so with acts of power and magic that had the Military involved and Council making judgements about him. This Hunter, so capable, so strong, so monstrous and... and…
"I said, one more time, ya beat me," Mikau let out again. But Pyrrha still couldn't believe it. Maybe it was the grin he had, showing off the rows of teeth. Maybe it was the fact he still looks unharmed, minus a minor scar across his fin. Maybe it was because he didn't seem like an… actually surmountable task. Maybe it was because it was Link in there as well and… they really had. "Congrats JNPR, ya took me down a peg." It was wonderful to hear, truly elating! It was the victory Pyrrha didn't knew she needed!
"By Aura depletion to critical levels, Mikau of the Zora is defeated." The confirmation by Ms. Goodwitch was just as grand to hear, pulling a smile over the Mistral Champion's face. "Victory is given to team JNPR."
The roar of the crowd was familiar, but Pyrrha's elation at victory was joyously new.
Mikau wasn't even mad, not in the slightest.
Sure, he had a new scar that would have gotten Lulu up in a fit and worry, considering how the rest of the kids were ready to blow bubbles with how it looked for them, but he knew it wasn't as big a deal. He healed quick, and he was quick to remind Link that he didn't have a fin to worry about either. Link knew he was right, but was thankful nonetheless.
Mikau laughed even as the roar of the crowd continued. It was a sound he loved to hear, and one he couldn't make himself, no matter how loud he and the rest of the Go-Go's played. The cheer and roar of an audience, like the waves fresh off of a storm? That kind of sound only came from the schools of minnows ready to risk their gills in thanks. It was a great sound to hear, no matter what kind of ears they came in through.
Too bad it wasn't for him, at least not fully. He knew when he was second act, and clearly the red-haired Gerudo and her team were the victors of this battle of the bands. Sure, maybe because he took it a step too far, but a loss was a loss. He couldn't blame the ocean for putting the reefs in the wrong place, not when he had the strength to fight the currents.
Link was quick to remind him that this was alright, as JNPR, the team he had spent the better part of the past half hour fighting, are the first time to actual beat him, and that is an accomplishment. Mikau knows he's right, just like how he felt when Japas welcomed him to the Go-Go's, or Lulu sang her first song. Great to be a part of the event, but knowing the importance of someone else's first stroke. Nothing to get in the way of.
He was sore though, and a few stretches of his arms made his scales feel as if they were about to peel off. A shame, because he wasn't even in the water to make sure he had the epidermal layer prepared. Then again, he probably wouldn't be here for much longer, and Link agreed, though not out of malice. And again, he didn't mind.
He got to sing in front of a crowd, even if it was a solo act. And sure, he did prefer to sing in the schools, cause no one sound bouncing off the walls ever sounded as great as a chorus from the full band, but it was still better than numbing silence. That would be a hassle to deal with, especially if he was underwater for it. Like a Watarara without sight or a Shiekah without hearing. Wouldn't be nice to feel.
Link did not blame him again, and once more thanked him. They had many shared memories like the one they were witnessing now, and this new one they would both recall was one that was created thanks to Mikau, and the Zora was proud to remember it.
Watching as Ren and Nora were being assisted by Winter and her younger sister, the two using their Semblances to assist them with standing up, even if the pair of teammates sported smiles matching their personalities. The subtle and satisfied smirk on Lie Ren, then the boisterous full-toothed smile on Nora. Even as they were slowly lifting themselves up, raising hands in response to the praise still being thrown down, justifiably, to them.
Jaune Arc was taking deep breaths as Cardin Winchester stood next to him, Penny also helping him out. The pair of them were helping him stand, even if the boy was grinning with the giant of a fellow slapping his back. The comradery was not one Mikau witnessed grow, but Link was thankful to see it. From the opposing team leaders laughing at the success of one, and the golem girl rocking on the balls of her feet as she was assisting however, she could. Their other teammates were around, perhaps making snapping noises with their jaws, if they were anything like the Gerudo Mikau was used to interacting with. Link was sure they weren't.
He was sure that Pyrrha was receiving, doubtlessly, the most amount of praise. She was all but lifted on to the soldiers of the other teams as they came down to her, with Yang and Ruby lifting her up even as Blake gave her back her shield. It must have blown quite a ways over for her to get it. But the Gerudo girl with hair to match only smiled and laughed, so far away from the usual recluse and apologetic figure Link had come to known. Mikau also preferred her like this, more like a pearl showing from the pressure of a clam then seafoam nearly washed away. Link could take that metaphor well.
"You still alive in there?" They heard the familiar ring of Tatl beside them. Mikau's toothy grin turned to see the fairy bouncing in the air near him. "Take that as a yes." And that made him chuckle.
"Aw, tears for fear?" Mikau quipped to the fairy, earning an indignant ring from the ball of light. His voice rumbled as he laughed again, his gills working the air through them. "But I'm all good. Got a new hole in me, but that'll be gone with the tide, least as soon as Link wants to put half the mind to rest." Link had to recall through Mikau's memories that he only ever turned off half of his mind when he was asleep, otherwise the phrase would have left him. Tatl, ever the knowledgeable friend, did not.
"Well there's some good news then," her voice let off, the grumble behind the ring unmistakable, even if neither Mikau nor Link knew the reason for its placement. "Almost got your butt completely kicked by a cheap trick, and still taking a beating at the end of it." Her wings drooped for a moment, and Mikau missed something over the continuous cheers of the minnows and squires. "Seriously, do you have any idea how many different ways you could have won if you hadn't decided to go all out with that?"
Oh, so that was why she was upset.
Link understood her point and why. There were many other tactical choices he had to him. He had to suggest to Mikau about foregoing the Zora Sapphire when Nora, apparently, gained strength from lightning. That was something that nearly cost them the duel alone, but good on them for hiding such an Unknown, one that he had no preparation or idea of. So it made sense to put away the Sapphire then, or at least as soon as they had the opportunity to do so. There was no telling what else she was capable of.
The Unknown had the advantage, that was why the answers to said mysteries went unspoken.
The Scale of the Water Dragon, however, was far more effective a weapon. The issue was, it was not something that Mikau could use nearly as effectively as the Zora Sapphire, seeing as it had a limit to what he could draw. And the consequence of that, seeing as he was out of energy and nearly impaled, was obvious.
Sure, Link had reminded of other ways he could have won, and Mikau was keen to at least hear him out once he started playing. He knew all of that.
"I could've done something different, choosin' a different stream to swim through or hid in a different reef, yeah," Mikau admitted as he looked at the bobbing blonde ball of light. She was clearly waiting for him to trip up, like she did so often. Link was letting him take the heat this time, not as if he hadn't gotten it enough in Termina. It wasn't something he liked, almost like getting a bad blast of Like-Like juice on the ocean floor. Not fun. Then again, making the fairy rage a bit…
"But seriously, who wants to hear half a song?"
He held up his hands with the question, making sure his sharp teeth were wide and on display for the fairy. Even with the cheer and excitement of the crowd around them, growing ever louder, Mikau could hear the ever-intelligent fairy ring with a high pitch of rage. A good thing that it wasn't just them, or else she might have jumped down his throat and out his gills. Then again, again, she still just might.
"So that was you holdin' something back?" Mikau turned at the voice, recognizing it from a couple of days ago. Link knew it from as far back as weeks. They were unsurprised to see Qrow approaching them. Mikau gave them a glance with their solid blue eyes, already starting to look down for the obvious other party approaching.
Wump! And they, Link and Mikau both, were phenomenally unsurprised to feel Moraine run into their legs, tiny hands wrapping around his lithe blue-scaled limbs. It didn't hurt, far from it, though the height difference between them was extreme. Still, he wasn't exactly coming off of his best set, so the sudden force wasn't something he took like a coral bed.
"She sure was worried about you," the uncle of Ruby and Yang spoke up, scratching his mess of dark hair. Mikau still could not see the similarities between him and the fun girls of the team. Neither could Link. Then again, his point was still solid. "Had to keep her from running off of the stands and into your arms when that Nora chick started to beat you like a fan." Yeah, that wasn't fun to experience.
"That I can't blame you for," Tatl at least relented. Mikau quickly gave her his attention again, Link as well. "Here I was thinkin' that the Arc kid was just getting over confident with the shield you gave him. I had no idea that little time bomb was a literal battery ready for a charge!" Battery huh? That must have been something she learned recently, as neither Mikau or Link knew what it was.
"She did… o-o-or at least she doesn't use it often," Tael added to his sister. Mikau missed his approach, the cheering of the crowd having drowned out the already submissive ringing of the darker fairy. Then again, they were starting to quiet down at least. Not that the members of team JNPR were receiving any less attention. "Penny said that, um… that apparently Nora realized her Semblance when she was struck by lightning, but… b-b-but that isn't easy to make happen often. Usually." No it wasn't, so it figures that the Zora Sapphire was just perfect for it.
"So she made sure to basically trick you into giving her the boost she needed." Tatl added on again. The ring that came after that could have been another sigh or an angry spit of air. Link thought it was the former, but Mikau honestly would have preferred it if it was the latter. Funnier that way. "Guess those brats really did do some research before this. Not looking for that one magic sword to swing." Mikau grinned by Link's command.
"No, they certainly had strategy this time," he spoke with the Zora's voice. He turned to look at the group again with the same Zora's eyes.
The four members were together again, even if they were surrounded by a still lightly clapping and cheering crowd. The volume had fallen, but not vanished. Ren and Nora were back on their feet, the girl hugging her partner as he held his arms above her deceptively strong hold, patting her back even as he put his hand on Jaune's shoulder as well. The leader of the team had Link's former Mirror Shield on his back out of sight and mind as he had his arms up and pulling in the remainder of his team into a group hug. Pyrrha Nikos, easily the more recluse and skilled member of the team, took it all with a sure smile.
They were a team, and a strong one at that. But what was more… though Mikau saw them as lilies and tadpoles beginning to gain their legs, Link knew they were already beyond such a point. No longer the students who had come to learn the basics and past the squires capable of holding their own. They used deception, strength, skill, and even a chance of luck to best him, even if he had other means to attack.
But the means for victory was not the same as having it. Merely because he could have won doesn't mean that he did. He lost because he listened to Mikau's request to finish the song, and Pyrrha with Jaune's aid took advantage of it. The same way how they knew of Link's desire to remove the members of the group who were strongest, only instead succeeding in giving them a boon to their power. They were not students still learning or squires still training. They were a step beyond that now.
May chance they only now needed to hear it.
"Everyone, everyone, please settle down!" Mikau suddenly let up. Moraine struggled against his leg for a second, even if his voice got the attention of the crowd. All the students to the instructors gave him their attention, easily too seeing as the Zora towered over most of them. A good think Link wasn't speaking, or else most of them would probably miss him.
He saw the members of RWBY together, with Winter near them. CPRD, complete with Penny on Cardin's shoulder, looked at him from the edge of the docks. Qrow was still near him, taking the que from Mikau to lightly pull Moraine off of him, who followed with Tatl and Tael. He saw Oobleck in the crowd as well, at least behaving like a student more than the Super Buzz that Tatl fashioned to call him. Mikau got it, though Link did not. A thought for another day. For now, there was more to be said.
"For I start with the announcement, why don't we give another holler for team JNPR, for taking on the shark in the sea and coming out on top!" He held out his hand to the team, and the cheers followed.
The bashful looks from the various team members, Nora aside, were something Link understood well. Mikau did not, as this was the time where they were supposed to join in the cheering and give an encore, but Link reminded him this was not a set on a stage, even if he just finished playing a song. He got that, but moved on to let Link talk.
"Now I want to say, and ensure, that despite what anyone says from here on out, I held nothing back." He put his hands on his hips as he spoke, even as he heard Tatl ring from behind him. "Don't get me wrong here, sayin' I'm startin' down the wrong current or duckin' into the wrong reef. If I had done things differently, I might have had a chance to win, same way how if you four had chosen differently, you coulda lost those advantages you built up. I'm willin to bet my undamaged fin that there's more than one eye in this crowd who could call out a moment or two like that."
The murmurs that followed were like the songs of the whales in the ocean. Always far off no matter how close the sources were. Mikau let them sift for a minute, understanding the importance of a lull in a song. Link gave it to him… before starting to speak again through the Zora.
"None of that matters, though. Not anymore." His words silenced the soft queries. "Cause the possibilities don't matter. All that does matter is the conclusion." Mikau leaned back, letting his dorsal fin pull at the back of his head, even if it made the bareness of his scales itch. He wanted to get in the water, especially after having nearly been impaled. But not yet. "And because of that, I'm no longer looking at tadpoles, students, or squires."
His hands lifted as he said this, the sharp digits at the ends of his hand belaying the webs at the beginnings of his phalanges. Link gave the four members of JNPR a moment to look between one another, wondering what he was talking about. He did not bother to glance at the instructors, sure that they either understood now or shortly soon would. Perhaps there would need to be a ceremony of some kind, a celebration of sorts, but for now, his word was enough. Mikau told Link such. And so, Link told the what he knew.
"Nora Valkyrie," the girl stood tall, saluting in an almost mocking gesture. Even if she was dripping with sea water.
"Lie Ren," the boy stiffened his posture, keeping his face rigid. Eve if sand fell from his clothes.
"Pyrrha Nikos," the apparent dueling champion adopted an almost regal stance. Even if she looked as if her muscles were ready to cry out.
"Jaune Arc," the leader stood at attention as would a soldier, lifting his chin for the effort. Even if there was still some rubble in his hood.
It all made Mikau grin, even as Link spoke on.
"With the conclusion of this battle in your favor, I recognize you all as Knights."
The curious murmurs from before grew in volume, not the silence that Mikau expect. Link did, as he knew that this was not something to be silent about. He shut the lips of the Zora, hiding his sharp teeth. He used the calm features nod towards the team, towards their leader, and the group that had bested him through all that they had.
They were a good team, and a fine set of knights indeed.
"Congratulations to you all." What happened made Link question of Mikau's desire to laugh was justified or not, even if he heard such a sound coming from the instructors around him, including Qrow. It was curious, because others did not appear as amused as they were.
Then again, there were few reasonable responses to fainting, especially if it was Jaune Arc.
Authors Note:
And with that, I finish the first fight in favor of the students.
A lot of people were nervous about Link losing, but I hope I explained why he lost and hinted towards the rest.
A) Mikau's a showboat, and definitely did things Link normally wouldn't, like waste Aura like that. How often does Link lose all his arrows or bombs?
B) Use a better song, or better targets. He had to know Pyrrha was enemy number one after Nora
C) Use the Zora Sapphire after that
But like I hinted, Mikau didn't want to finish the song early, did what was most entertaining, and because of that, he lost to a team that had an actual battle strategy. Simple as that. All that said, I hope I at least made the fight entertaining.
Because I got one more chapter, just one… then shit the size of fucking monsoons are going to hit the fan the size of countries...
