Beurling awoke to the feeling of something soft being pushed up to her nose. Opening her eyes a crack she could see Tomoko trying to snuggle in to her more even though she was as close as she could be without somehow fusing into Beurling.
"You're so needy sometimes." Beurling whispered.
"I can't help it, your comfy, it's like I'm protected by a big mother bear."
"Was that a play on my name?"
"It wasn't intended."
"Forgiven, if I'm honest, being hugged by you does make me feel safe to."
(Next day – Team MSFT doubles match)
Beurling was sat in the ready room with Maple waiting for their turn to go into the arena, she was a little concerned about this fight she had seen these two fights and they were no push over.
"So what's the plan?" Beurling asked.
"Well we don't know one of their semblances so we can't do much about that." Maple sighed "The other has a radar so we can't sneak up on them, ones set for range the others set for melee like us."
Maple hummed a second before speaking her idea "Ok, I will pull back, as I do you fire at them and keep them from firing at us, then I'll take over, you then deal with the unknown quick while I suppress the range one."
"Sounds like a plan."
The buzzer in the room for the pair to start making their way to the area sounded and the pair made their way to the exit corridor "Come on, lets win this quick so you can show off to your girlfriend."
"Maple, it's bad enough with Frenda, please don't add to it."
"Oh come, I got you two together I'm allowed a few jokes and I'm not as bad as her."
"Fine, but just know I'm going to be paying you back for each one you do to me when you're dating."
"Fair trade." Maple smiled.
"And next up we have Vacuo's team MSFT's Maple Haida and Sabine Beurling." The announcer spoke as the pair came into the arena as Beurling wished the announcer wouldn't say her first name "And facing them Mistrals team NVVY's Matilda Navy and Ciara γκρί"
Beurling observed the pair, Ciara was a redhead cat faunus, wearing dark grey trousers, red t-shirt and dark Grey, covering her face up to her was a black scarf on the scarf was a green seahorse, on her back was what appeared to be a backpack.
Matilda was wearing a navy-blue dress and white over coat, which matched her white hair and gloves, this was contrasted with a Prussian blue soft peak cap, the girl also had a chest plate and more plates covering her arms and legs. In her right hand she was holding a pole with a Prussian Blue flag, in her left was a shield with a small badge on the front of a woodpecker sitting on a cannon.
"Excuse me, Beurling, I believe congratulations are in order." Matilda said with a smile.
"Yes, congratulations." Ciara added in a rather monotone voice.
"How do you mean?" Beurling asked a little confused.
"Your relationship, we saw the incident after the dance." Matilda explained "It's nice to see young love."
"Thanks I guess."
"You're welcome, now let us have a good fight for the fans shall we."
"Three, two, one, begin!" shouted the announcer.
Just they discussed Beurling drew her revolver and began to fire as Maple ran back into the tall grass behind them, Matilda stepped in front of Ciara with her shield up in front of her, while dropping her flag to the ground.
As she was firing Beurling saw the side of Ciara's backpack push out to the sides to reveal six barrels in each side which began to fire past the side of Matilda towards Beurling, the brawler dived to the side to dodge the rounds.
Beurling aimed again and tried to hit Ciara but Matilda again stepped into take the shot.
"Beurling go now!" Maple shouted from the bush.
Like a shot Beurling ran forward firing her revolver as Maple fired her rifle, Matilda again stepped in and tried to eclipse Ciara so she was taking the rounds, as she advanced Beurling saw her own rounds bounce away before just before they came close, meanwhile Matilda blocked Maples rounds with her shield.
Then one of Maples rounds hit Matilda in the leg making her kneel, Ciara turned and made to fire back as while Matilda had been shielding her, she wasn't able to fire, Beurling took aim and the round from her revolver struck Ciara in the shoulder, making the girl stagger and her shots went wide.
Matilda shot up again and as the rounds flew in, Beurling saw Matilda put her shield up to block Maples shots again, while placing herself between Beurling's round and Ciara, just as her rounds were about to hit Matilda, the shots bounced away again.
'Her semblance, must be some sort of shield, like a second aura.' Beurling thought as she drew her Kukri.
Once she was close enough, she swung her Kukri aiming at Matilda's hips, the white hair girl moved her shield to block, Beurling then went to try and shoot her revolver but Matilda grabbed her revolver and get it pointed to the floor.
"Ciara, go!" Matilda shouted to her teammate.
"Roger." Ciara shouted as Maple kept firing after her.
Beurling took the moment Matilda was distracted to activate her semblance to kick Matilda in the knee, making the girl kneel and then Beurling went to shoot her revolver but Matilda hit Beurling in the sternum making her stagger back before she could fire.
"So is your semblance a shield then?" Beurling said as she caught her breath.
"Very perceptive, yes it's a light shield, your enhanced strength is quite impressive, now let's leave our long-range friends to their fight while we duel."
(Maple VS Ciara)
"Ok, where are you going?" Maple muttered to herself as she saw Ciara running for water area that had appeared behind opposite.
Maple lined up a shot and fired, Maple saw a green glowing rail behind Ciara head, Ciara span for she was facing Maple and then opened fire from her backpack, right at Maple, making the sniper dive to the side.
"Guess I have to keep moving." Maple muttered to herself as she activated her semblance and moved again, with Ciara shots landing right where she had just been again.
As Maple stopped and took a knee, she saw Ciara wade into the water, Maple took aim again and fired, hitting Ciara in the back and kneel in the water, Ciara span around and as she fired again Maple rolled to the side as the shells landed next to her.
Ciara began walking backwards facing Maple as she did, the glowing rails appeared again and Maple fired another shot knowing that this meant Ciara would soon find her, immediately after she fired, she crawled back a bit and the ran to the opposite side of her first sniper location.
Ciara fired and Maple got thrown forward by the blast as the shells landed.
'Ok, she's really though.' Maple thought as she saw Ciara trying to run the island in the middle of the water, an idea struck the sniper as she pulled the bolt back again to remove the last round and then added a new clip of electric dust before pushing an explosive dust round.
Taking aim just as Ciara began to climb up, Maple fired the explosive round, the round impacted and then detonated in the ground kicking up sand that blinded Ciara for a second and kept her feet in the water.
"Matilda, the flag!" Ciara shouted as she made to fire.
Maple rapidly pushed the next round in as her opponent turned to try and fire, both fired simultaneously. Maples electric round struck the water and it became electrified shocking the cat faunus, making her aura fizzle and then break taking her out the fight.
Ciara rounds landed and blew Maple out the long grass, Maple flew into the air and landed in the centre of the arena couching, as she tried to stand up, she was struck with a solid impact to her chest and leaving her sprawled on her back.
"And that's Maple and Ciara both out the fight." The announcer said as Maple heard Matilda and Beurling still clashing in the distance.
"Good luck." Maple groaned as she rubbed her chest.
(Beurling VS Matilda)
Beurling advanced on Matilda just as Beurling was about the fire her revolver Matilda kicked the flag she had dropped in the floor up to her hand then swung the pole at Beurling's head.
Beurling herself duck under the swing and shot the pole away further the momentum of the swing and the shot span Matilda right round so her back was facing Beurling who and then slashed down on Matilda's back, followed by a kick that made Matilda tumble to her knees.
Matilda turned as Beurling followed up bringing up her Kukri ready to strike down, Matilda dropped the flagpole again and went for a gut shot with her shield.
Beurling beat the shield out the as Matilda went to punch her, Beurling let go of the revolver and left to dangle by the lanyard on her shoulder and caught Matilda's wrist in her hand, the feeling under Matilda white gloves felt odd to Beurling, but she carried on head butting Matilda leaving her spawled in the.
Just as she was attack again Matilda kicked out and tripped Beurling up making her land face first onto the floor.
"Most impressive." Matilda said slightly breathless as the pair stood up, the sound of the gun fight between their teammates where having in the background.
"You're not bad yourself," Beurling said as she put the revolver back in its holster "though I must ask, your arms…"
"I'll tell you after." Matilda said as she put her shield on her back and charged forward, Beurling ignited her semblance, going for a round house kick only for Matilda to catch the leg in her hand and hit her leg back the way it had come and this time sent Beurling spinning around, before hitting Beurling in the head and then getting her shield in her off hand and hitting it in the side making Beurling kneel.
"Matilda, the flag!" Beurling head Ciara cry out.
Before she could react, Matilda jumped and rolled over her back before she grabbed the discarded flagpole and threw it at the tall grass.
"And that's Maple and Ciara both out the fight." Beurling heard the announcer say stood up and saw Maple laying on her back 'Sorry Maple.' Beurling thought as she put her Kukri away and ignited her semblance again.
"Sure you want to put the Kukri away?" Maple asked as took her shield out her
"Don't need it." Beurling said as she rushed forward. Beurling brought her fists together above her head and made to strike down.
Matilda brought her shield up to bloke and Beurling could see her readying to follow up punch, Beurling brought both her fists down on the shield and the force broke Matilda's stance, Beurling immediately grabbed the shield and ripped it out Matilda's grip stunning the white hair girl and leaving her open to Beurling hitting her sternum and staggering her back and then Beurling round house kicked and again and leaving Matilda spawled on the floor.
"And Matilda's down, her aura levels dropped, so team MSFT takes the match." The announcer said, as the crowd made their whistles and cheers.
"You ok?" Beurling asked as she offered a hand to Matilda.
"That semblance hurts." Matilda said as she took the hand.
"That was it at full force." Beurling said as she helped her up "I don't often use it, in case I over do it."
"Ah, well guess I should be honoured I forced you to go that far then." Matilda smiled "Well let's get out friends down to the rest area, then you can ask that question." Matilda said as she walked off to help Ciara.
"You ok?" Beurling asked as she helped Maple up.
"Yeah, that backpack is rough." Maple groaned.
"Well just think of it as punishment for the teasing earlier."
"That's a bit of a low blow."
"Come on, let's get to the rest area."
(In the rest area)
"How your chest?" Beurling asked as she helped Maple sit down.
"Sore, I'm going to be feeling that tomorrow."
"Sorry I couldn't stop her."
"It's fine." Maple groaned.
"I do hope I didn't over do it." Matilda said as she came up to the pair.
"No, I'm fine."
"Glad to hear you're ok." Matilda smiled to Maple before turning to Beurling "I believe you had a question about my arms."
"It's a suspicion." Beurling clarified.
Matilda smiled as she pulled glove off to reveal a skeletal hand covered in a metal wire frame "I was caught in a few fights that ended badly, so yes I have replacement forearms and legs, with magnets in the arms so I can fit the shield at will." Matilda said with a bit of sad smile.
"Sorry." Beurling said feeling guilty for asking.
"Don't be, I like to think I was given them for a reason, that being to remember I'm not invincible and need to take care, plus it reminds me I need to protect people so they don't suffer the same fate." Matilda smiled "Now, I believe your about to have a visitor."
"Huh?" Beurling turned to see Tomoko burst through the door and tackle her to the floor, much to the amusement of those around.
"Aw, how very sweet." Matilda said, "Well we need to go, good luck with the rest of the contest." Matilda said as she walked away.
"Tomoko, can you let go now?" Beurling asked as she was glaring at Frenda who was trying to stifle a laugh.
"Oh sorry." Tomoko blushed as she sat up.
"It's fine." Beurling smiled as scratched the top of Tomoko's head.