Ruby watched in awe at the bustling streets, full of weapons, of Hope Reichs capital, Freund. Yang was dragging Ruby by her wrist. Ruby broke free of Yang's grasp and ran over to one of the vendors.
This vendor sold all sorts of weapons, collapsible staffs, flaming swords and rifles. Ruby was practically drooling over the weapons, Yang walked over and grabbed her hood.
Ruby whined as Yang pulled her away. "Aw but Yang they had cool weapons."
Yang regrouped with Ryden and their tourguide.
"Everything alright?" Ryden asked as they pushed through the busy streets of Freund.
"It's fine, someone just is easily excitable," Yang looked back to Ruby.
"It's not my fault weapons are so cool," Ruby pouted.
Ryden noticed they were nearing a very large building compared to the others, most of the buildings of Freund were one to two story buildings, but this building appeared to be five stories tall.
Ryden nudged Yang's elbow and pointed at the building. "I think that's the Feldherr's office."
Yang looked at the building and came to the same conclusion Ryden had.
"Is Pat in there?" Ruby pointed at the building.
Yang and Ryden looked at each other, they weren't given any information on Pat's actual location. All the couple was told was that Pat Brewner was in Hope Reich.
"Most likely, it is where Clay works and Pat greatly trusts Clay and would want to see him," Ryden stated.
"Well then let's hurry!" Ruby bolted toward the building.
Ryden and Yang rolled their eyes and chased after her, leaving their guide behind.
XXX XXX XXX
"Boy what're you talking about?" Clay stood up from his desk.
"Well the white lightning was said to be a myth, but my father has performed it! The only explanation must be that he has ahnen, the magic of the goddesses!" Pat explained. "And if I got some of that than theoretically I should be able to use white lightning."
Clay was quiet, he stroked his chin. The old cowboy was in deep thought.
"I don't know about all this magic mumbo jumbo, but I know you got yourself a spirit of fire, boy and if you want something that you'll get it. So go train, quickly. I'm going to give you till noon tomorrow before the tournament begins," Clay sat back down at his desk.
"Clay, that won't be enough to figure out how to control white lightning!" Pat complained.
"Boy, I have faith that you can do it, now go," Clay waved Pat off.
"If you say so. Oh hey I'm taking the expressway out," Pat blitzed towards the open window behind Clay and flew out of the office.
Clay sighed and returned to his papers. He looked up and spun his chair around so he could look out the window. "Be careful boy."
XXX XXX XXX
Ruby charged into the Feldherr's secretary's office. Ruby was panting and stopped just short of her desk. Suddenly she leapt into the air and stuck her finger up.
"Where's the Feldherr's office?!" She yelled.
"That way," The secretary frantically pointed.
Ruby bursted into rose petals and raced down the hall toward the Feldherr's office.
Clay sat at his desk. He had finally finished signing all the papers and had them neatly stacked in a tall pile. He felt the breeze from the open window behind him blow down his neck.
Suddenly his door flew open and a red blur flew into his room, a massive gust of wind followed the blur. The gust launched the papers back and they flew out of the window.
Clay watched as all his hard work went out the window. He struggled not to scream. He slowly turned back to the red blur, but his eyes lost the rage as he saw who had entered his office.
"Ruby my girl!" Clay jumped up and walked over to her.
"How have you been Clay?" Ruby wrapped herself around him.
"Not bad, not bad," Clay gently hugged the girl.
Clay had a soft spot for Ruby because of how much joy she brings Pat.
"Clay, I need a favor," Ruby broke the hug.
"Anything for Pat's lovely girlfriend," Clay said.
"Do you know where Pat is?" Her eyes stared hopefully into Clay's.
"He want that way, should be heading to where y'all trained on that mountain," Clay messed up her hair. "Go get him."
Ruby shot out of the office and out the window. Yang and Ryden came running in, both of them were out of breath and panting. Yang looked around and saw Ruby wasn't there.
"Oh come on!" Yang pouted.
XXX XXX XXX
The people of Hope Reich were treated to a rare sight, someone being as fast as Pat.
Ruby raced through the streets of Freund, rose petals littered the streets as she raced after Pat. The blue streak of lightning was speeding ahead of her, but she was quickly closing the gap.
Pat eventually noticed that someone was following him. He turned and saw Ruby, then he came into a dilemma. He wanted to stop and meet up with Ruby, but he had to train and he couldn't bring Ruby to meditate, he could barely sit still for it! Imagine what Ruby would be like.
Pat blew out of the town and ran through the forest. Ruby was getting closer and closer. Pat was slowing down as he thought about what to do.
'Should I stay or go?' he thought to himself. 'She'd probably be mad if I left, but..'
Pat's decision didn't matter as Ruby tackled him. The the two tumbled at a high speed through the forest. They rolled down a slope and into a clearing with a single tree in the middle. The two rolled toward the tree and Pat slammed his head into it. Ruby laid on top of a dazed Pat.
The girl pinned Pat down. She grabbed him and bearhugged her boyfriend. Ruby squeezed the air out of his lungs.
"I missed you so much!" She kissed him on the lips while she sat on his chest, Ruby wanted to make sure Pat didn't leave anymore.
Pat struggled to sit up. Ruby didn't seem happy about it once he did. He shook his head and tried to come out of the daze he was in.
"Come on, we have to go back," Ruby said.
Pat finally snapped out of his daze and started processing what was happening.
"No," He weakly protested.
"What?" Ruby tilted her head.
"I can't, not yet, I have to train," Pat tried to stand up, but Ruby pushed him back down.
"I'll come with you," Ruby eagerly said.
"No, this something I must do by myself," Pat picked Ruby up bridal style and stood up.
"No I'm not leaving you again," Ruby slammed her fists into Pat's chest.
"I'm not having this argument right now," Pat sighed.
"Well I am, you're coming back with me so I can make sure you're safe," Ruby tried to wiggle out of Pat's arms.
"I'm putting you down, go back to Freund," Pat gently set Ruby down and walked away.
Ruby immediately followed him. Pat stopped once he heard her footsteps. Pat huffed and turned around.
"We aren't going together, you are going back to Freund, end of discussion," Pat sternly commanded. He glared at his girlfriend.
Ruby knew Pat was serious and she didn't have a way to make him do what she wanted, but she also knew how to change his mind, a trick Yang had taught her for when she wanted something and the guy wouldn't let her have it. Ruby started to cry. Pat tried to stay stern, but he hated seeing Ruby cry. He walked over to her and scooped her up in his arms.
Pat pressed her face into his chest to dry her tears, he had no clue that Ruby had just duped him. Ruby stopped crying almost instantly. Pat realized what had just happened, but he didn't want to risk seeing Ruby cry again, so he just started walking back to Freund.
"I hate you sometimes," Pat sighed.
"No you don't," Ruby snuggled up in Pat's arms. She was happy knowing that he couldn't go anywhere without her.
XXX XXX XXX
Yang and Ryden sat in the office of the Feldherr. Clay was kind enough to allow them to wait there until Ruby came back, if she ever did come back. Ryden pulled out his scroll and looked at the time.
"You don't think he's off having his way with her do you?" Yang asked.
"No, that doesn't sound like Pat, but even if they were she's seventeen and can handle herself. Stop worrying," Ryden said.
Suddenly the door was kicked open.
"WHY DOESN'T ANYONE KNOCK?!" Clay threw his hands in the air.
Yang and Ryden stood up and looked at the door. Pat stepped in, he was carrying a sleeping Ruby.
"Aw," Yang said.
"Take her," Pat walked over to Yang. "I need to go train."
As soon as Pat said that Ruby 'woke' up.
"Nope, we're going back to your mansion," She ordered.
"Alright," Pat sighed. "Come it's getting dark."
Yang and Ryden followed Pat out of Clay's office. Leaving a shocked Clay.
"That boy is never gonna going to learn that she calls the shots," He shook his head.
XXX XXX XXX
Pat slowly opened his eyes. He saw his arms were wrapped around Ruby. Pat remembered that she made him sleep with her last night. He wondered when she would let him out of her sight.
Pat slowly took his arm off of his sleeping girlfriend. She grumbled in her sleep as Pat took his arm off. Pat shivered as the room was cold and he only had on boxers and a T-shirt.
Pat quickly got dressed and prepared his swords. He then gently shook Ruby awake. The young girl opened her eyes and saw Pat, she smiled at him.
"The tournament starts soon, come on," Pat whispers in her ear.
"I don't wanna get up," She pouted and closed her eyes.
Pat rolled his eyes. He grabbed her head and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. Ruby's eyes shot open and her face went red. Pat waited a moment and then separated, leaving the blushing girl speechless.
"Come on get up, I'll go make you some strawberries with whipped cream," Pat smiled down at Ruby.
"Alright, I'm up," She sat up and swung her legs off the bed.
"See you in the kitchen," Pat went to walk away.
"You're leaving?" Ruby was surprised.
"Um yeah, you have to get changed," Pat was confused.
"I know," She slyly stated.
Pat was confused at first, but he quickly realized what she meant. His face went red and he quickly opened the door. Before he stepped out he told Ruby one last thing. "No more talking to Yang about relationship advice."
Pat quickly exited the room and jogged down to the dining hall. He passed Ryden and Yang's room. He heard some noises that made him jog a bit faster.
Once Pat arrived in the dining hall he asked if Diener wouldn't mind preparing some strawberries.
"Oh trying to woo your girl?" Diener nudged Pat with his elbow and winked.
"Just get some strawberries ready,"
Seele walked up behind Pat.
"Now boy is that anyway to talk?" She said.
"No ma'am," Pat looked down.
"No ma'am indeed, anyways I got news for you boy, Your youngest and only sister has a boyfriend now, watch you gonna do about that?" She asked.
"Nothing, I know Alex, he's a good kid, where are they anyways?" Pat asked.
"Well they went to the tournament, that Alex boy is eager to prove himself as some 'great fighter'," Seele said.
"Ruby! Hurry!" Pat called.
A red blur flew out, Ruby appeared in front of them, she was fully dressed and ready to eat. Diener walked out carrying a platter of strawberries.
"Grab it and let's go! I got to see that first match or be in that first match!" Pat blitzed away.
"Hey wait up!" Ruby raced after him.
XXX XXX XXX
Pat and Ruby walked into the arena, which was just a stone floor in the forest with some stands built around it. The audience was mostly comprised of fighters and not people.
"What's the big idea isn't this supposed to be a big deal?" Ruby asked.
"It is, but this is just the elimination round," Pat explained.
The two walked up to the stands. They stood there and waited for the fighters to be called. Pat was drawn first and his opponent would be Nora.
"Nora?!" Ruby asked.
"Huh, I was not expecting that," Pat said.
Pat leapt of the stands and landed in the arena. Nora walked toward him, she carried her massive hammer. The referee walked in between the two fighters.
"Alright here are the rules, Anything goes, you may tap out at anytime, I'm allowed to call the fight at anytime and please try to avoid killing each other," He looked at Nora when he said that last rule. "Begin!"
Nora rushed Pat and swung her hammer at his ribs. Pat ducked and drew his katana. Pat slashed at Nora, but the girl leapt back.
Pat rushed toward her. Nora transformed her hammer into a grenade launcher and fired a grenade at Pat. The grenade hit him square in the chest and Pat was sent flying back.
Pat slid across the ground and almost went out of the arena. He struggled to his feet. He shook his head.
Nora charged him and swung her mighty hammer over her head and down onto Pat. He blocked it with his sword. Lightning raced around his body. Pat sent lightning through his blade and pushed Nora back.
Pat threw a bolt of lightning at Nora, it slammed into her chest and she staggered back. Pat threw another and another and another, all three hit. Pat threw five more bolts at her, they all hit.
Pat blitzed behind her and slammed his sword into her back. Nora went flying and Pat blitzed after her. He slashed her out of the air and Nora flew into the stone ground.
Pat blitzed away and gave time to allow Nora to stand up. There was a cloud of dust that shielded her from Pat's gaze. Pat focused on the cloud of dust.
Suddenly a pink streak of lightning came racing out of the cloud. This streak slammed their hammer into Pat's chest, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Pat looked up from the floor. Nora stood over him with pink lightning racing around her body.
Pat leapt to his feet and underhand swung at her. Nora quickly blocked the attack and stabbed her hammer into Pat's face.
Pat flew back and Nora chased after him. She slammed her hammer into his chest and carried him into the floor. Pat collided with the stone and cracked it.
Pat was dazed and his head was spinning, but he kicked Nora away. The girl stumbled back and Pat blitzed back attempting to gain distance.
Pat knew his aura wouldn't be able to survive another direct hit from her hammer and his body would definitely not be able to, he would have to tap out.
Nora raced toward at him and swung at his chest. Pat stepped back with amazing speed, he was focused on dodging. Nora underhand swung at Pat, but he blocked it with his carbon blade.
A massive shock wave shook the arena when their weapons collided. Nora pushed up against Pat's blade and Pat was struggling to keep her hammer down. Nora grinned at Pat and pushed up with all her strength.
Nora's hammer flew up and Pat's blade was sent flying. Nora swung down, but Pat sidestepped. He charged his fist and slammed it into the girl. Nora flew back, but recovered in air. She gently landed and raised her hammer toward Pat.
"You do know my semblance allows me to absorb lightning, right?" She tilted her head.
Suddenly everything made sense to Pat.
"Of course, I just wanted a challenge," Pat lied.
Nora charged Pat and brought her hammer down on him. Pat didn't have enough time to dodge. The hammer hit and a large cloud of dust clouded the two from the audience's eyes.
Ruby sat in the stands on the edge of her seat. "Come on Pat!"
Everyone else in the stands watched eagerly, no one wanted to miss the next event in the fight.
The dust cloud finally parted and revealed two figures. Pat had caught Nora's hammer with his hand. Pat was staring at the ground. Nora was shocked that Pat was even quick enough to catch her hammer.
Pat looked up and his frosty white eyes stared into Nora's eyes. Nora fired a grenade from her hammer, but Pat rolled to the side.
Pat rushed her and swung his fist at her face. Nora ducked and tried to swing at his side, but Pat blocked her hammer with a lightning shield.
Pat pushed her hammer back and snap kicked her in the chest. Nora staggered back and Pat roundhouse kicked her in the face, knocking her to the ground.
Pat kicked her like a football and sent her flying away. Pat quickly raced over to where she was landing and caught Nora. He spun her around and slammed the girl into the stone.
Nora had dropped her hammer. Pat picked her back up and threw her away, he then raced after her. Pat leapt into the air and axe kicked Nora in the chest, sending her hurtling downwards and slamming her into the stone below.
Pat landed on the young girl. The stone cracked beneath them. Pat picked her up and was about to slam his fist into her limp body, but he heard a whistle. The frost faded from his eyes and he dropped Nora.
The referee ran onto the arena and raised Pat's arm into the air.
"Pat Brewner is the victor of the match!" he announced.
Pat watched as medics hurried onto the arena and carried Nora away. He did feel bad about semi losing control, but what was done was done.
Pat walked into the stands, Ruby quickly tackled him into a hug.
"You were amazing!" She cheered.
"Thanks Little Red," Pat smiled and hugged her back.
"Hey losers!" a familiar voice called.
Pat turned and saw two very familiar faces walking towards him.
Alex and Emma walked up and greeted him.
"Ruby!" Emma said with glee.
The two ran up and hugged each other. Alex just nervously stood near Pat. The young man was nervous around his team leader, but Pat wasn't.
"Hey Alex, how have you been?" Pat shook his hand.
"Pretty well, I've been training alot and I can't wait to show you all I've learned, It was really easy especially since Emma knows show much about using these types of semblances," Alex smiled.
"Well hopefully we can fight it out in the ring," Pat went to mess up Alex's hair, but his hand hit Alex in the forehead. Pat was taken by this. "Did you get taller?"
"Oh yeah, Emma says I grew a few inches," Alex laughed.
"You did, you are about five eleven," Pat said.
"Oh cool, a few more inches and I will be as tall as Ryden!" Alex cheered.
The referee walked out onto the arena and got everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have the next two fighters!" He announced. Everyone stopped talking and listened. "Fighting in the second match is.. Currant and Alex Feuer!"
Pat heard Currant's name and froze. "Oh no."
XXX XXX XXX
The tournament has started! I'm really happy with the matches that I have made and I can't wait to get the next chapter out!