Edited as of (7/21/18)

PB: Da-Awesom-One


A TRUE CHALLENGE


-Ruby Rose-

"Hey, this whole tournament deal's free to watch on any Scroll, right?" Ben asked with an edge of mirth as the crowd roared around us, crying out towards the two pairs, Joel and Reika on one side, while Pyrrha and Nora stood on the other, looking slightly overwhelmed. "Anyone can watch it, even those outside the Kingdoms, for no charge at all? No pay-per-view?"

"Well, yes. As long as they possess a Scroll or device with a connection to a CCT network, they should be able to stream a live feed of the fighting as it happens," Weiss explained breathlessly, from the looks of it still in shock at the announcement of the contenders for this match up. "The tournament's founders believed that all citizens of Remnant, regardless of their background, should be able to look upon and judge the skills of their future defenders. Why do you ask?"

"'Cause someone's probably spittin' on their overly-generous graves right about now. I mean, think of the ratings this must be gettin'!" he chuckled, gazing up at the screen shining above us. Team AMBR versus Team JNPR. The "Invincible Girl" pitted head-to-head against the "Runaway Trapper." "Ya couldn't ask for a better opportunity to cash in on the name alone."

As bad as that probably was, I couldn't help but agree with him. The excited atmosphere that had been pulsing through the arena since they stepped onto the stage was practically contagious. 'Two of the strongest students in our year, and it's not even the finals. Beyond awesome...' And what's more, this would be the first time for either of them fought, the two never having the chance to spar as Professor Goodwitch seemed determined to keep the two separated in class, to the dismay of the little gambling ring AMBR's own rogue had set up.

Pyrrha and Joel, of course, had joked about it themselves whenever we asked them who they thought would come out ahead in a fight. Back then, they'd always have some excuse or some errand that needed doing whenever someone offered to reserve the arena, deflecting until the matter was settled or forgotten.

'Now, it's not like I wanted to see my friends fight or anything, but come on, who would want to miss out on the chance to see something like that!?' I thought with a broad smile as I rushed up next to Yang on the railing, cupping my hand over my mouth.

"Kick their butts, Joel! You can do this!"

"What are you doing, Ruby!?" I looked back to see Jaune, Ren sitting next to him, gazing at me like a sad puppy. "Pyrrha and Nora are your friends, too!"

I felt a sudden tinge of warmth at my cheeks, my face probably red as my cloak as I realized what I'd just said. "I, uh... I-I mean bring down the hammer, Nora! Break their...!"

"Tsk, tsk. Bitin' the hand that feeds ya cookies whenever ya ask, eh?" Ben spoke up this time with a hearty laugh. "That's just cold, Rosie. Weiss cold." Yang shot him a thumbs-up at the pun while my partner huffed. "Speakin' of which, Blondie, maybe shoot me a warnin' next time you and Psycho wanna play 'round with that apron ya got him? I do happen to walk in there occasionally." The smile my sister wore suddenly fell, shifting into a blushing scowl.

"Why would you need a warning?" I frowned as the rogue only laughed harder, Blake joining in, if slightly more reserved, wiping at a sudden nosebleed.

'Am I missing something?'

I sighed at my friend's antics, suddenly realizing my little issue as I looked back and forth between the two teams on the field frantically, at least until I felt a comforting arm wrap around my shoulder. Yang pulled me into a tight hug that nearly threatened to choke the life out of me as she put her head on my shoulder comfortingly.

"It's alright, Sis. They're all your friends, and I'm certain they'd understand you rooting for either side whoever you choose. Heck, there isn't a law that says you can't cheer for both." I looked over to her, mouth opening to thank her, tell her how much I appreciated the advice when she added softly, eyes fixed on her boyfriend, who waved back at us when he saw us looking, "But jerk or not, Poncho's right about the sweets. I'd hate to have to fill in Joel about your sudden urge to cut back on your sugar intake. He really does enjoy baking for you, after all."

I felt my blood run cold, gazing at her as if she'd just threatened to take away my baby. 'She wouldn't dare!... Oh, who am I kidding? This is Yang. Anything's possible when she's involved.'

"Still think I should be down there..." Max muttered darkly under her breath to her teammate, just loudly enough for me to make out during one of the rare lulls in the uproar. She was angry, I noticed, one of her ears twitching, though that might just be all the extra noise. "Why the hell did you pick the pipsqueak!? I could crush these guys without even...!"

"For the last time, I made the best decision with the info I had. You're good, Max. A powerhouse in your own way. But ya run out of steam too quickly. Meanwhile, Reika can outlast you - and just about anyone else I know - by leagues," he commented back, for some reason trying very hard not to look the Faunus in the eyes. In fact, he seemed to be intently focused on Pyrrha herself, following her as she greeted her audience. "You could've talked to me sooner, and I might've been able to think of somethin' else. You didn't, so I took the safer option."

"How could I!? You vanished without a trace!" she shot back with a low growl. I could hear the sound of metal stressing, probably her armrests. "The fuck did you go, anyway? Even had your partner worried, not that I could get anything out of her!"

"None of your business, Argus. I thought we made that perfectly clear when we...?"

"Rubes? Hey! Remnant to Ruby!?" My head snapped up at the sound of Yang trying and failing to get my attention. "You alright? You spaced out pretty hard there for a minute. The match is about to start, and I still don't hear cheering."

"R-right!" I replied quickly, realizing with a sudden rush of guilt and embarrassment that I'd been focusing my Aura to my ears unconsciously, trying to listen in on my friend's conversation, or argument more like.

'What's wrong with me!?' I'd never really understood how those two worked. One minute they were getting along so well, and I actually started considering they might make for a cute couple. 'I'm not as naive as people seem to think I am. I've watched a few of those sappy romances Yang has stashed away...' However, the next they were at each other's throats, looking for blood.

'Still, I wonder what has him sounding so stressed out?...' Now that I thought about it, he just seemed off. Classes had been postponed for the tournament, so it wasn't homework. The blonde rogue never made much of an effort with that in the first place, anyway. 'Maybe something to do with his weapon? That always stresses me out. Or it could be his arm...'

I shook my head out, red hair flying back and forth as I tried to focus on the match before me. 'If he wanted me to know, he would have said so. It's like Yang told me. 'Wait until they're ready to talk...' But how would I know when that is?'

This was exactly why I preferred weapons over dealing with people. When weapons had problems, there were steps to go about identifying the source of the issue, and fixing it. Simple as could be, if you knew how. 'I'll try talking to him after the match, maybe.'

Sometimes being a leader was hard work. But someone had to do it. Be their rock, their guiding...

"Ruby, less thinking, more cheering!"

"O-on it!" I joined her, the noise levels reaching its peak as the stadium floor rumbled and began to open.


-Joel Ambrose-

'Well this isn't intimidating at all,' I thought dryly, holding Circuit in bladed staff form across my shoulders casually, watching as the "Geyser", "Desert", "Ice," and what the contestants and announcers had all taken to referring lovingly as the "Tron" biomes rose up around us, shielding my eyes from the artificial sunlight beating down on us. I caught Reika fidgeting slightly, and gave her a reassuring nudge on the shoulder, earning a much harder one to my side that threatened to send me on my ass. 'She could give Yang a run for her money...'

"Joel Ambrose and Reika Murasaki of AMBR versus Pyrrha Nikos and Nora Valkyrie of JNPR, both teams hailing from Beacon Academy..." Port bellowed over the tumult, voice even more boisterous than usual, and that was saying something, "in what is, in my opinion, to be a match the likes of which many didn't expect to see until the tournament finals!"

I smirked, shifting from leg to leg, bouncing on the balls of my feet. 'Yeah, totally. No pressure at all.'

"Indeed, Peter, indeed!" Oobleck joined in excitedly, mine and Pyrrha's pictures appearing behind him. "Pyrrha Nikos, a record four-time Mistral Regional Tournament Champion during her time at Sanctum Academy, will be pitted against Joel Ambrose, a top student during his years at Aegis Academy, and heir to a long legacy of accomplished Huntsmen and Huntresses!"

'Thanks, Doctor...' I felt a sudden rush of pride at the introduction, one fit for a Huntsman. 'I owe you one.'

Feeling a small tug at my shirt, I looked down. Reika glanced around at the field, looking confused. "Match start soon?" she signed, simplifying it down for me. I'd made pretty good strides in picking it up, but I still couldn't handle the sort of long detailed conversations she and her partner could. "Why?"

"My guess is the organizers wanted to push up the hype," I replied, motioning to the crowd, almost all of them at the edge of, or out of their seats entirely. 'Max must be loving this...' "Sorry. Pyrrha and I are probably to blame on that count." I eyed the champion herself, who seemed to be giving a similar apology to the bubbly bomber beside her.

"No apology... Both praise deserved... Alright..." she shrugged, looking over her gauntlet, her face the picture of anxious excitement as she added, "More people watch us win."

Now those were words I could get behind, the two of us turning back to our opponents.

"GOOD LUCK, YOU TWOOO!" Nora cried out, putting Magnhild through a few test swings. "I PROMISE I'LL TRY TO GO EASY ON YOU!" She grinned evilly with her eyes narrowing, putting the hammer through a few fancy spins.

"Don't even think about it!" I shot back, planting my weapon at my side as I bent forward to grab the some of Desert biome's sand, rubbing it between my hands before standing up again, and turning to face Nora's redheaded teammate.

'Guess it's time we finally settled this.' It was a simple little thought. Competitive, but it lit something in me that I'd almost forgotten I'd possessed. Something I hadn't felt in months, maybe years, since leaving Bastion to join the Hand. The chance to go up against a true warrior, and test myself against a capable opponent at my best again. Not in an effort to survive, like my fights with Alexander or Virgil had been, or to kill as I had in the Red Hand. This was a fight I could enjoy. A fight that I almost craved.

"Pyrrha Nikos!..." The Mistrali tensed at the use of her full name, her weapons held similarly at her sides. "It's an honor." I bowed my head in her direction.

Her calm façade faltered for a second as she grasped my words, a calm smile building across her face as she moved to clap the hand clutching her sword to her chest in a similar gesture of respect. "The honor is mine, Joel Ambrose." We both assumed a ready stance, weapons held before us. "May this battle bring glory to us both!"

I shouldn't have been surprised that a famed tournament fighter would know the response to such a challenge, but I couldn't help myself, a fire burning in my chest that already had sparks leaping across my Aura.

"Keep Nora off me," I said as an aside to my mute teammate, the girl only nodding in response as she stared in awe at the two of us.

"Such a statement! Truly what this tournament was meant to represent!" the green-haired professor boomed over the speakers, before turning to his co-host. "How about you, Peter? What are...? Are you crying?"

"O-of course, Doctor... H-how could I not, after such a touching display!?" the portly man sniffled, pulling a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, dabbing at his eyes with it before blowing into it with the force of a cannon blast. "Oh, how this takes me back to the days of my youth, as I...!"

"Aaaand without further ado...!" the speedster silenced the man's microphone before the worst could occur, much to the relief of the crowd, appearing back in his seat whilst wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, the beginnings of a Port-length story being picked up in the background. "JNPR versus AMBR! Three... Two... One..."

"Let's do this," I muttered under my breath, letting focus overtake excitement, or at least compliment it, the world coming into focus as I drew upon my Aura.

"BEGIN!"

Pyrrha's first move was immediate. Her bronze colored shield, Akouo, flew through the air straight towards me with an accuracy only her Semblance could provide. Reika tracked the disc, intent on stopping it, but paused as I shook my head, already darting forward towards her, tossing a dagger her way. She hadn't been expecting the move, and, upon realizing her Semblance was having no visible effect on the non-magnetic silver projectile, she was forced to knock it away with Milo, giving me just enough time to slide on my knees underneath the shield without her able to influence it. Circuit's bladed end sparked as it dragged across the ground. Vaguely registering Nora blasting her way past me towards Reika, cackling madly as she went, I kicked up to my feet to continue my charge. The champion, meanwhile, stood her ground with a determined look, as if waiting for something.

'...Ah, right. The return trip.' It was an effective move, and one I'd seen her make use of during her spars. Throwing the shield as a projectile, while secretly using her Semblance to return it to her. If the first throw hits, she plays it off as the force of the hit sending it back, while if it misses... 'It comes around like a boomerang.'

Any normal Human would've been hit, likely even a Huntsman using Aura to enhance his senses might've had trouble. For a former Trapper, however, with ears rivaling a Faunus', it was easy to track the shield as it cut through the air behind me, coming ever closer. Just when it seemed it would hit me, I leapt high, feeling the metal disc pass underneath me. The crowd really went nuts for that little stunt as I landed on me feet, bringing my staff around to strike at her before she could ready and bring up her shield.

My weapon, however, felt strange in my hand, and, if I hadn't been waiting for it, I likely would've missed it, dismissing her attempts to manipulate and angle the metallic sections of the weapon as a simple mistake on my part.

'But I know better!'

Gritting my teeth, I sent my Semblance pulsing through the weapon sharply, electricity roiling across its surface as her control weakened, her eyes widening as I brought the weapon back on its intended path, scoring a glancing blow across the Aura covering her stomach as she reacted at the last possible second to minimize the damage.

'It worked... It actually worked!'

Pyrrha's Polarity Semblance gave her a massive edge in any close-range fight, allowing her to angle her opponent's weapons away from her body, making it look as if she couldn't be touched using magnetism. As my weapon relied for the most part on Dust-treated Silver for the blades and wires, however, this meant she would have to target the steel casing in order to use her ability against me. That little trick I had pulled had been the only counter I could think of, relying on what I could remember when Violette forced me to study my Conduction, and what it could do in detail.

'Magnetism depends on electrical fields and currents. Run a bit extra, though, and I can screw up her control. Not by a lot, but by enough that, in a high-pressure situation, she can't do it so effortlessly.' I resumed my stance as she checked where I had hit her, it having only taken a sliver off her Aura, but that it had happened at all...

'Nora might counter my Semblance perfectly...' I thought, grinning as the look vanished off her face, only to be replaced by a more determined air as Milo shifted into spear form. 'But mine's more than enough to counter yours!'

Still, if the Mistrali had been at all put off by the revelation, she didn't show it. Instead, she moved her spear around in a sudden swipe that forced me to duck back, losing a few hairs in the process.

'She's fast!' I thought with a grunt of effort as I kicked back to my feet, throwing my shoulder forward into a tackle that sent us skating unevenly into the Ice Biome, the champion managing to throw me off before my Semblance could do more than spark ineffectively against her Aura. 'Skilled, too.' I skidded across the slick surface, drawing a knife to plant it in the ground as she struggled to her feet, emerald eyes fixed on mine, and waiting for my next move.

'Oh, this is gonna be fun.'


-Reika Murasaki-

"Woohoooo!" I leapt aside, managing to clear the floating platform before the hammer wielder brought her weapon down, smashing right through it, and sending debris flying and crashing to the ground below while she landed on a lower platform. "Almost got ya, Rei-Rei!"

I couldn't exactly shout back, so I replied in the only way I could, sending one of the larger chunks of what was once a platform hurtling her way, catching her in the chest, and sending her tumbling off the platform. She got up wincing, rubbing at her behind as I stood over her, arms crossed and cocking my head to one side.

"..." I wagged a finger back and forth.

"Oh-ho, looks like someone wants to play Queen of the Castle with me!" She gripped the handle of her hammer tightly, shaking with unspent energy.

'She's so strong...' I grimaced, prepping my gauntlet. 'Even without her Semblance.' I glanced out towards where Joel and Pyrrha fought, the two having pushed through the Ice structures before forcing the conflict deep into the Geyser Biome.

Even with my Semblance, I could barely get a read on the two, weaving in and around each other in some mad dance, spear and staff lashing outward as each tried to gain the advantage over their opponent, stray sparks falling about as the weapons struck one another. Joel was faster, dodging each counter by mere inches even as he delivered his own. But Pyrrha had a much better defense that forced the Huntsman to try to get around her shield.

'I could strike while she's distracted. Finish her off in one blow.'

"Pay attention, silly!" I glanced back just in time to see a trio of smoking pink projectiles hurtling towards me, survival instincts kicking into overdrive as I forced myself off the platform, my small form buffeted by the ensuing explosions. I landed, only to have to dodge backwards to avoid a rising swing from her hammer, coming up in a crouch a few yards away while the girl herself struck a heroic pose. "You're fighting me, remember?"

"..." I glanced back towards our teammate's fight. Nora, having caught me looking, shook her head and finger at me.

"Nuh-uh-uh, Rei-Rei!" She motioned to the two just as they entered a deadlock, both struggling with the other for a few seconds, before breaking apart with a sharp clang of steel on silver as a geyser rose up between them suddenly. "I mean, look at how much fun they're having!"

It was true. Looking closer, I could make out the determination and focused strain on both their faces, alongside the broad smiles they both wore. Pyrrha was practically laughing as she threw Joel back with a bash from her shield that pushed him into the yellow, the Team Leader using the force of the blow to land in a roll, before breaking his weapon apart into its dual weapon form, while Pyrrha's spear became a rifle, sending him scrambling for what cover there was. All the while, he kept her on her toes with his knives.

"I haven't see her this happy since Jaune put on that dress for her!" Nora said cheerily, leveling her own weapon at me, making what was to happen next perfectly clear. "So no, you won't be interrupting them! Her orders!"

I leapt forward, grenade whizzing past my head as I fell towards her. My gauntlet then slammed down on the ground with enough force to crater the arena floor beneath us. Dust and debris flew everywhere, but I could still sense her, moving erratically, and stopping right... I fell face forward as the hammer shot out of the smoke, swinging just above me.

The next few moments passed as if in slow motion. Having pushed myself into a crouch, I brought the violet-colored gauntlet back, the metal still hissing steam, steeling myself as Nora stood above me menacingly, her hammer brought over her head while the girl was glowing a bright pink as she drew upon her Aura.

'So this is what it's like...' I thought as I slowly watched my Aura-coated fist and her hammer come together in what was likely be an explosive level of force. 'To enjoy one's self in a fight... I could get used to this.'

Regardless, the organizers were going to have to take this particular field out of the rotation for a while...


-Pyrrha Nikos-

I felt the blast ripple through the arena long before I heard it, the shock wave sending Joel and I tumbling backwards as the biome Reika and Nora had been fighting within exploded, sending debris flying about the arena, and forcing a few screams from the crowd as some of the larger pieces shattered against the barrier. Thinking fast, I pierced my sword into the rocky footing beneath me, digging a long furrow as I brought myself to a halt. Meanwhile, Joel had shot forth one of his tethers to draw himself back before the wave could force him from the arena. The two of us shielded our faces as a miniature sandstorm swept by us, though I managed to catch another one of his knives across Akouo's face before I lost vision on him entirely, my reaction time dulled slightly by my instinctive attempt to catch the weapon with my Semblance.

It had been an unpleasant shock to discover my abilities had little effect on Joel, his own skill set somehow able to negate mine to a degree, which was more than enough to give him an uncommon edge. Rather than panic at the thought of my greatest defense failing, however, it only made my heart race. I was facing challenger I had no idea if I could defeat, and felt a thrill of fighting an opponent whilst relying only on my skills, and not some inborn advantage. After a few moments, the dust settled, and I caught sight of the Huntsman getting to his feet, his face tense, gloved hand going towards a slowly darkening stain on his side, gripping it tightly.

One of many injuries he'd seemingly sustained over the course of our fight, though easily the worst. Most of them were only a few small scuffs and tears in his clothes, and cuts sustained from near-misses that had already closed. Injuries that shouldn't have even occurred, seeing as his Aura was still well within the yellow margins, but the look in his eyes had given me pause, urging me to continue.

'Unbelievable...' At least I now understood the need for the fellow Huntsman to be so agile, even with an Aura such as his protecting him. His Semblance, while a powerful advantage, also seemed to limit his ability to defend himself by drawing on or converting the usual barrier Aura projected for its wielder during its use. His greatest offense was also literally his greatest weakness, as he was unable to attack at his greatest potential without risking harm, necessitating the need to tank damage, or dodge entirely to defeat his opponent.

It was a fighting style that took no small amount of talent, courage, and sheer recklessness to execute effectively. 'No wonder he has so many scars...'

I gave him one concerned frown, but he only smiled confidently, delivering a bit of pressure onto the wound as I noticed his Aura finally patching it. 'He'll try to end this soon. Neither of us has much left.'

With a battle cry he charged forward, weaving through a network of geysers erupting at his feet one after the other, masking his movements. I braced myself for a head-on approach, but a sudden jet of water from in front of me obscured my vision for a split second, which was more than enough time for him to leap through from the jet mid leap above me, soaking wet, and his Aura sparking wildly as he came down in my blind spot. My arm was hardly able to raise Akouo in time to fend him off, his weapon slamming against the shield with enough force to numb my arm. Pressing his advantage, he moved his way forward with a low sweep from a quickly-reassembled staff, followed by a rising palm that set my hair on end as it passed, and continued with a kick at my knee that threatened to set me off balance on the slippery floor...

Not to say I didn't give as good as I got. I forced my attacker back a few steps, dazed as I caught his staff between my arm and my side, before striking him across the face with Milo's pommel.

'I won't give ground!' I rallied myself forward, even as exhaustion plagued every muscle, the arm clutching my sword feeling like a lead weight. My Aura bordered at its limits as we both sprinted towards the other in one final charge. 'I won't surrender!' The beating of my heart in my ears matched the roaring swell of the crowd, spurring me onward. It was beyond thrilling. I felt unstoppable!

The final strike rang through the entire colosseum in a final dance of sparks, the space falling eerily silent as we came to a lurching halt. Blue and silver armored warrior opposite crimson and bronze plated champion...

And then, to the shock of the entire crowd, the white-haired Huntsman lurched forward onto his knees, barely catching himself with his weapon, even as I myself struggled to stay upright, fighting with every breath to keep my footing, until I felt someone move to support me.

Nora's beaming, somewhat bruised face looked back at me. "You did it, Pyrrha! You did it!"

'...I... I did?'

"A-and there you have it, folks! In a stunning conclusion, Mr. Ambrose's Aura has been placed firmly into the red at 3%, alongside his teammate, Miss Murasaki, at her own 8%! The winner, by double elimination, is Team JNPR!"


-Benjamin Carson-

'And so the people's champion, the great Pyrrha Nikos, defeats the seemingly unstoppable ex-Trapper, Joel Ambrose, in single combat before the whole of Remnant,' I mused despondently as the crowd roared its approval, my eyes fixed on the red-haired warrior being supported on her teammate's shoulder. 'Can't think of any better publicity than that for the next to-be guardian of us all...'

It still hurt to see Joel on his knees, though. Almost felt unreal, actually. Thankfully, Reika was on her feet, sort of, having taken a lucky hit from that hammer, though that put her into the side of that desert cliff. The small girl was slightly wobbly, but already moved to tend to our leader.

In the end, though, the result spoke for itself. And if I'd held any doubts about who Ozzy and Woody would be choosing as the prime Maiden candidate, they were erased with this. 'Strong, humble, kind... Gods, I would've chosen her in a heartbeat.' It made sense. Though, if what the General had told me was accurate, this whole "process" of ensuring that Amber's power could go very wrong, indeed. 'But I s'pose to them, the risk's well worth it in the end.' I tapped a beat against the metal armrest, mind racing. 'And it's gonna my job to protect her...'

"Told you I should've been in that damn fight!" Max spat angrily from next to me as she stood up, moving to join Blondie and her sister on the field, the two having leapt off the balcony the second the barrier had come down. "Way to go, Carson!"

"Hey, least they put on a good show!" I said, shooting her a grin I certainly didn't feel. "C'mon, admit it! You were lovin' every second!"

She grumbled something scathing as a reply before leaping down to the field, my eyes following her as she went.

"Could you really tell me she'd be ready for that responsibility?"

I clapped a hand to my head, realizing a moment too late that the limb was basically a slab of metal. "Damn it all..."

I had come to Beacon merely to serve my time, maybe learn a few useful tricks, then scarper off at the end along with Reika a free man, ready to ensure my father soon followed. As the months passed, however, that reality slowly began to change. Reika opened up little by little, meeting friends I'd never thought I'd need... 'Meetin' Max, of all people.' Honestly, by this point, I was actually starting to take what Dad had said seriously, actually considering starting over with a new life as a Huntsman. A respectable one worth living. 'Now all this business with these Maidens, the Wardens, me as a Specialist for the Atlesians...'

Even if things did go the way they were expecting, and Miss Nikos became Miss Nikos the new Fall Maiden - or hell, if everything went wrong, and suddenly Maxine herself was the one - it still meant some mysterious bitch on a power trip was after their heads. After people I cared about.

'Imagine what I would've said to that months ago...'

Still, even if it meant lying to my friends, betraying what little dignity I had to play Ironwood's little game, I wouldn't let anyone - whether it be this power-hungry assassin or the General's own people - come even close to hurting her...

'And anyone who tries won't be dealin' with stun rounds.'

I felt my grip tighten resolutely, moving to assist my teammates in helping Ambrose to his feet, the large man giving them a fair bit of trouble.

'Damn it, when did I start to care so much?'


-Natalie Corbell-

"Whew! That was a close one," Leah exhaled in relief as word of JNPR's victory rolled across the screen. The cameras were still replaying those tense last seconds that had decided the match. Played it again and again from various angles as analysts and critics picked over the fight like vultures. "Least the Queen Bitch herself should be off our... Hey, you alright?"

"I'm fine!" I perked up, realizing that I'd been staring just a bit too intently on a screenshot of Joel slumped on his knees in defeat.

'I'm sorry... but it had to be done,' I apologized, despite knowing the whole act was pointless.

When Cinder asked me to ensure the former Trapper wouldn't be a problem, it was either get him out of the tournament, or risk her "displeasure," which was something most people who crossed her didn't live to regret. JNPR had been the best bet.

"She just sent a message saying how she was 'entertained by the performance.' We're in the clear."

The Fox Faunus nodded, but I could still tell she wasn't really convinced.

'Of course I'm not okay... I just sold out my best friend - someone who's sacrificed himself more than once for me - just to save my own neck...' Of course I did. It was for the cause... Or at least that's what I told myself at night to help me sleep.

"...You did what you had to," she said after a few moments of tense silence, patting me on the back affectionately before turning back to her own screen. "Oh? Hey, look at this. Some of Taurus' boys picked up some kid off the street, asking anyone he could find to meet the Black Queen. Cinder wants a name to the face." I shook my head with a barely-held groan of sheer annoyance that I instead attempted to drown with coffee. "Sending you a picture now."

I glanced up from my keyboard as my Scroll pinged, opening the message... only to do a spit take that would likely ruin the device in front of me, and set Leah reeling back with a curse.

"W-what the...!? Natalie!?"

I ignored her protests, scrambling for my personal Scroll set up, pushing past the indignant Faunus. 'No. No, no, no, NO, NO!'

It was him. His dark hair was longer and more unkempt then I recalled when I'd seen him last, but there was no mistaking those eyes. The same color eyes as his sister's, but full of false innocence. I'd seen them in many states: dead to the suffering of those around him, excited as he ripped his foes limb from limb...

'What the hell is he doing here!?' No, that question could wait. Right now, I had to get in contact with those holding him, and warn them before it was too late.

"Natalie, what the hell!? You know this idiot?"

I paused, one hand on the keyboard while the other clutched my Scroll, poised over the call button. "Y-yeah..." I choked out, eyes moving once again to the picture those hapless White Fang grunts had taken. The one where Duo was staring back at me with a seemingly bored expression on his youthful face. "Y-you could say that."


-Adam Taurus-

'It's always something, isn't it?' I asked myself as I stared at the young Human sitting on the chair before us, hands cuffed behind his back. Our men had picked him up while he was asking some old bag about the "Black Queen." Harmless enough normally in itself, but with the Atlesians on the lookout, the witch wanted any leaks regarding her activities silenced, and any loose ends dealt with. This boy could've heard the alias in passing from some drunk on the street, and now here he was paying for it.

'But honestly, for me to have to come all this way to oversee it personally...'

"Answer the question, and the pain stops," the interrogator, one of the Blood Hounds sent along with Hector, said slowly and deliberately, delivering another sharp backhand to the Human's face that rang through the small space. "It's that simple."

"...Look, this is fun and all, but I already told you..." The raven-haired boy spat out a glob of blood to the side, surprisingly nonchalant about the whole ordeal, "I wanna talk to this Black Queen of yours everyone's so wrapped up with."

Strange. I'd heard our agent's hand make contact, but there wasn't even a bruise. 'His Aura's unlocked, then... A student at Signal, maybe?'

"I heard she wants to change things in Remnant, and I wanna be a part of it."

He had spirit, I'd give him that, especially for one his age. Hours of painful interrogation, and we were still struggling to get a name from the boy, let alone anything particularly useful. 'If he wasn't a dirty Human, I'd have offered him a position among us already.'

He moved his jaw around gingerly before glaring sharply at his attacker. "You know, you shouldn't hit me..." That little bit of lip earned him another slap, this one hard enough to rattle the chair, and almost sent it toppling over on its side. "...I'll get angry."

"And I don't give a shit! All I want to know is where some punk Human heard that name!" the large Faunus standing over him spoke out, massaging a tusk like tooth with a free hand as he held what looked like a dull-grey steel bat covered in tiny ridges and dark stains to his face, the only object of note on the boy's person aside from his Scroll, which the techs were combing through now. "The police!? Maybe you overheard it in class!?..."

"One of your guys, actually!" he said conversationally, perking up for the first time since he'd "arrived" into our care, his emerald eyes lighting up. "Karl Lovat! Some crummy spy you had working out of Vale General. Told me the whole deal himself! About how the White Fang was working alongside some woman in red calling herself the 'Black Queen.' How she's gonna change the world for Humans and Faunus by showing the Kingdom's what's what!"

The name wasn't ringing any bells, and from the looks of it, neither the interrogator nor the guard I had posted at the door seemed to know of him either. 'There was once a time I tried to know the people involved in this fight... My brothers and sisters.' Unfortunately, with the realities of command came the realization of just how many faces that meant remembering. 'Blake had always been better at...' I grimaced as I tried my best to remove that traitor's face from my mind, shoving the memory of watching her speed away, as I had for months, back into the shadows where it belonged.

"Lovat, Lovat... Just another leak we need to plug up, it seems," the Hound spoke up menacingly, doing a few practice swings with the strange weapon as the boy looked on, bemused. Impressive, seeing as those practice swings were mere centimeters above his head. "Used to be you could trust your men to keep quiet, even to the bitter end. It's this generation, I swear." The older man looked over his shoulder at me, the tone he used sending a shiver of irritation down my spine at his impudence. "Has me wondering what else he told you."

"Oh, lots of stuff! Couldn't get him to stop once I got him going. Heh, had to smash his skull in with that bat you're holding just to shut him up," our prisoner replied, leaning his head back wistfully, seemingly unaware of every eye in the room turning to face him, the guard gripping his rifle tightly. I even found myself placing a hand on the hilt of my blade. "...Might still be a few bits of him stuck on it, if you look closely enough. Never was good at cleaning up. I make such a huge messes."

"I've heard enough. Deal with him! Now!" I snarled, turning away to leave when my Scroll suddenly started buzzing. My personal Scroll. Only a select few had the means of contacting that number, key members of our leadership, and certain agents I worked closely with.

'Her...'

I shook my head as I pulled the device from my coat pocket, noting with no fair bit of concern at the unfamiliar contact number, holding it up to my ear warily while signaling the interrogator to carry on with the execution. The Hound shouldered the admitted murderer's bat with a nasty grin on his masked face. "This is Taurus. Who am I speaking to?"

"Oh, thank the Gods I finally got through!..."I flinched back at the sudden audial assault hitting my eardrums through a wave of static interference. "Adam Taurus, it's me, Natalie..."

"Corbell!?" Cinder's personal hacker, and pet ex-Red Hand analyst. I'd met the rather eccentric girl briefly during the early days of our partnership with Cinder, and I remembered vividly how it had taken every speck of willpower - and the knowledge that many of that witch's plans depended on the girl to be successful - not to remove her bigoted head from her shoulders upon learning what she really was. "How did you get this number!?"

"No time for that!" her voice said shrilly in a panicked fervor, what sounded like the rapid fire clatter of fingernails on keys in the background typing away. "You brought in a prisoner, right!? Black hair, young, asking about Cinder!?"

"How do you...!?" Of course. That red woman's little moles in our ranks must've made contact the second we brought the boy in.

"Look, you need to... Oh shit, you're in there with him now!?" I gripped Wilt tightly, now struggling to contain my anger, especially as I heard the telltale whirring of the small camera we'd had set up in the room moving independently. "Oh no... Look, you need to get out of there! Get everyone out of there! Evacuate that entire facility, if you can!"

"You're in no position to be giving me...!"

"Shut up, and listen to me, you stupid oaf!" My eyes widened behind the ornate mask I wore, suddenly very intent on the uncharacteristic outburst I'd just heard, especially the layer of fear it failed to keep concealed. "Look, I get it! You don't like me, and I'm terrified as all hell of you. Now, we can spend time going back and forth over who has more authority over who in this situation, until I inevitably convince you to take me seriously! Thing is, I'm trying to save lives here! Your people's lives! And that means you need to listen to what I have to say now!" She paused, gasping for breath, seemingly shocked at her own daring. I know I was. "You're in danger! Everyone in that base is in serious danger!"

"...Explain," I hissed into the microphone, trying to ignore the sound of the interrogator giving the boy one final little speech about pain, inevitability, and all that nonsense.

And explain she did, quickly and efficiently. My heart suddenly froze in my chest as I heard the snap of a metallic chain and a sickening crunch from behind me, followed by a heavy thud and a shout of alarm from the guard as he attempted to level his weapon, only to cry out as the bat speared through his Aura, and embedded itself in his chest with enough force to carry him into the wall.

'What the...!?' I spun around, dropping the Scroll in my haste to face my foe, who now stood massaging his wrists as the interrogator's body lay limply in front of him, with his head at an odd angle.

"I... I tried to warn him," the boy... no... the Trapper spoke up in a voice sounding very different from the easy cadence he'd had before, deeper, his voice tense and almost pained as his Aura sparked to life, the sheer volume of energy making me take a step back on raw instinct alone. "You should take her advice and run. It won't be as much fun otherwise."


-END


A/N: Hey all, another chapter down and what a chapter it was. To be honest I had a lot of trouble with figuring out what I was going to do for this bit and whether or not I was going to put AMBR in the finals. I did a lot of back and forth and decided that in the end this was what I wanted as it frees AMBR up to do their own thing while other people focus on the tournament. That and I finally wanted to put Joel up against Pyrrha, a match up I wanted to do ages ago but chose to stick him up against Mercury instead. I'm sorry if some might find the outcome predictable, I only hope I was able to provide an entertaining scene nonetheless

In terms of possible opponents I entertained the thought of another OC team, special thanks to The Baz for offering his characters, I promise that though an old favorite didn't appear in this chapter that certainly doesn't mean he won't show up in this world soon enough (Especially seeing as I wound up shipping the guy with our favorite little sadist even in Canon, it's that entertaining) Personally I'm looking forward to it an hope I can do him justice.

And yay another crack in Joel's armor for people to exploit, when he uses his Semblance he loses that helpful barrier that negates damage that most if not all hunters enjoy meaning if he misses he better dodge or get ready to take that blow, not really an issue for him mentally but physically it stacks up. I've hinted at it before like when he gets grazed on the docks fighting White Fang ages ago but this is the first time it's been explicitly stated. Unfortunately for the guy when you get a rather OP semblance to play around with I feel inclined to make life difficult for you.

EDIT: I did feel the need to work on this after I put it up, something just didn't feel right. Sorry for the false alarm.