Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Divergent, or Shadowhunters/Mortal Instruments. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer, LJ Smith, Veronica Roth, and Cassandra Claire. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Thank you.

Writer's Notes: Thank you delia and Goddessnyte for your reviews! This has been so much fun writing Bella this way. I love writing Bella as a badass! I hope that you guys enjoy the next chapter, because it's going to get dicey! As always, I appreciate all the support I get. Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

Bella walked out of the shower; her towel pulled tight around her as she went back to her bunk. One of the things that she was having to get used to was showering and then quickly changing in the open without being completely self-conscious.

Peter walked over to her, freshly cleaned from the shower he took, but his nose was bruised bad, and a cut was across the top. He didn't look too pleased to have a broken nose. "Hey stiff." He growled.

Bella turned, and looked at him. "What do you want Peter?"

"You broke my nose." Peter spat.

"Yes, and?" Bella said, raising her brow. She gripped her towel a little tighter, not liking how close he was to her.

Peter reached out, shoving her backwards. "I don't know who you think you are, but stiffs don't belong here."

"And you think you're being honest because you're from Candor?" Bella said, catching herself from stumbling back too far, but her towel loosened.

Peter clutched his fist and raised it.

Jasper stepped in, towel hung around his waist, his chest bare. He caught Peter's fist before he could hit Bella. "I suggest you walk away. Cornering someone when they're trying to get dressed is both sad, and pathetic."

Peter glared at Jasper. "You've gotten lucky. Just wait." He said, looking past Jasper, throwing his threat towards Bella. He turned and stormed away.

Jasper turned and looked at Bella. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Bella said, and then brushed a lock of her hair out of her face.

Jasper nodded. "I'll let you get dressed. There's a corner over there, that the rest of the room can't see." He said with a nod.

Bella smiled. "I'm okay. Thank you."

Jasper nodded and then retreated over towards his own cot.

Bella swallowed, taking a breath, before sitting on her cot, and sliding her panties on under her towel, and then her pants. It wasn't easy, holding her towel up at the same time, but she managed. She glanced around the room. Some of the girls didn't care, changing without shielding themselves, and some of the guys did gawk, and whistle, but it seemed like the others just ignored it.

Jasper appeared; he was dressed now. "Here." He said and held up his towel. "I can see you're nervous."

Bella nodded. "Thanks," she murmured, and she saw Jasper turn his head away, and she quickly pulled her sports bra on. "Okay."

Jasper nodded, moving his towel. "You're used to showering earlier than everyone and changing while everyone is still asleep."

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"It's a guess." He smiled. "I'm sorry we're surrounded by idiots."

Bella smiled. "It's fine." She looked up at her sister, who was clad in her own towel, and Bella picked up her towel, and Jasper smiled, lifting his, and shielding Tris, as she changed quickly.

Everyone filled the dining hall, with Cristina chattering away about Jasper standing up to Eric.

"I think you have a death wish." Will said, looking at Jasper.

"No, I'm just no intimidated by guys like Eric. He really didn't do his homework." Jasper said and took a bite of his food.

Clary nodded. "Klaus is your brother?"

"Yeah. My mom married his dad. We're half-brothers." Jasper explained. "He's older by four years. His own mom died when he was younger. When I was six, our dad died, so it was just my mom for the longest. When he was eighteen, he jumped factions. Growing up with him, was tough. My mom would always get on to us for fighting. We were supposed to live in harmony."

Bella found that interesting. "So, you brawled a lot?"

"Yeah. He was there the year Shelby and Miller came to Amity from Dauntless. He participated in the secret fights we had. I was faster, stronger." Jasper said, and then took a drink. "Sucks being a Mikaelson."

"Wait your father was Mikael Mikaelson?" Cristina asked.

Jasper nodded. "We have other siblings, just so you know. There are a lot of us. We have two sisters. Both are in Amity. Rebekah chooses next year. Freya stayed Amity five years ago. They are all my half siblings, with the exception of Rebekah, Kol, and Henrich. They're all younger than me." It was the most he had spoken about his family.

"Any others?" Tris asked.

"Yeah, our oldest brother, Finn, went to Candor. Elijah came here to Dauntless before Klaus. He's been here for a while. I'm sure we'll run into him sometime. Kol chooses next year too. Our father was Dauntless born before changing factions at eighteen." Jasper explained. "It's bound to happen, that theoretically, his offspring would show aptitude for that faction."

Bella hadn't thought about that before. Charlie and Renee were both Abnegation, so she wasn't sure why she was the way she was. She was quiet. "Well, you have a death wish, going up against Eric like that." She said out loud.

"I think I'll be okay." Jasper said with a smile.

They all finished up lunch, and was sent back to the training hall, only to climb to the rooftops, where targets were set up, and guns were lined up. It was live fire training, and Bella had never held a gun. She imagined that it wouldn't be so bad.

Eric, Four, and Magnus stood off to the side and watched as everyone lined up. They took their turns shooting at targets. It came natural to the Dauntless born, because they already had a precursor to this sort of life.

Bella didn't do half bad. Most of it was just aim, and steadiness. She hit center mass four out of her six shots.

Tris didn't do so hot, and she knew that would be held against her somehow.

Once they were done with live fire training, they moved back downstairs where large walls wee put up, an outline of a person against the wall, and were throwing knives to start their practice throws.

Eric disappeared, probably to check on the Dauntless born, who were being trained separately, and then brought together to spar with the others.

[1 week later]

Between drills, sparing, live fire training, and other random training, Bella felt like she had increased her abilities significantly, and she noticed that Tris was doing much better with live fire, and with the throwing knives.

Al was struggling with the knife throwing, and kept missing his target.

Eric took note of this. "It's pathetic that after a week, you still can't hit the target. Go pick up the knives and try again."

"While everyone is throwing knives?"

"Are you scared?"

"Of being stabbed to death by a bunch of people throwing knives?"

Eric stared at him. "Everyone stop." He said, and everyone halted their throwing. "Stand in front of the target."

Al hesitantly walked over in front of the target.

"Four is going to throw these knives around you, and if you flinch, you're out." Eric said.

Bella glanced over at Tris, and before Bella could say something, Tris did.

"Anyone can stand there and let someone throw knives at them. It doesn't prove anything." Tris spoke up.

Eric turned, looking at Tris. "Really. Then you should be able to take his place with no problem then."

Al moved for Tris to stand there. Eric nodded to Four. "Same rules apply."

Four looked at Tris, his eyes staring at hers and threw the knives, the last knife scraping her ear as it hit the target.

"Points for bravery." Eric muttered, and then moved past Four, going towards the end of the lanes.

Tris walked past Four, and looked at Bella. "I'm fine." She said before Bella could ask.

Bella looked over at Four, who was looking at Tris, looking at her with some sort of regret.

Magnus walked over. "Bravo, you're moving up." He said, nodding at the board.

Bella glanced at the board. She was ranked number ten now. Jasper was second, and Jace was first. She saw Cristina's name up farther, at number thirteenth and Caroline took 22nd. Will was even high at 20th. Tris was right there at 29th, and was so close. They had a couple more weeks, and hopefully would make it above the line by then. "Yeah, but Tris is still not there yet."

Magnus studied her a moment. "This week, you're going to go through a simulation. This is to test you against your fears. Everyone has them." He said.

Bella nodded. "Okay, are we being graded on it?"

"The practice ones aren't going to count, but the final will. There are a few more things that will gain points. Another sparing session, and I know Eric is out for blood, so Tris needs to make sure she studies and watches everyone. I can't control who he's going to pin her against." Magnus explained and then walked away.

The next morning, Bella rose at four in the morning like normal, with the others that they trained with.

Jasper stretched, and looked up at Bella when she walked into the training hall. "Morning."

"Morning. Where's the others?"

"Not here yet. I'm assuming they're slow to start because of yesterday's hike." Jasper said with a smile.

Bella nodded, and started stretching. The muscles in her calves were bigger and so were the ones in her arms. It was a slight difference, but she noticed it. "The simulation test is coming in two weeks. We're supposed to do simulators this week."

"Yeah, that's what I hear." Jasper said, and then picked up a jump rope and started using it. He liked to get his blood pumping in the morning.

Bella used a punching bag to test the power of her hits, focusing on the bag in front of her. Jasper watched her, watched the willpower to keep ahead, to never give up. She was Dauntless. She would Dauntless.

Magnus watched as Japer and Bella trained for a bit until the others joined them. Tris had been working extra hard, staying longer in the mornings while the others went back to the bunks. He decided to show himself this morning, walking into the training hall. "I commend you all for early morning training." He said with a cat-like smile.

Bella looked up at Magnus. "Well, we're doing what we can to stay above the line."

Magnus nodded. "Jasper, you don't have to worry too much, but your next opponent will more than likely be Ed, or Peter." He looked at Bella. "I know Eric really well, and since you were Abnegation previously, he's going to try and break you down. It's likely Jace is your next opponent. And Tris," he looked at her. "He's going to put you with Izabell or Noah. They're both Dauntless born, and both do not care and don't hold back. He's going to try and devastate you."

"Why does he have it out for Abnegation?" Bella asked.

"Because he was Erudite before changing factions four years ago." Magnus said simply. "There is another test coming up. It's your final firearms, you'll be scored on that, so do well, and you could stay above the line, even if you fail your sparing." He said, looking mainly at Tris and Al. "Continue doing this. I'll see you all at seven." He said and then he was gone.

Al frowned. "I'm really bad at aiming. I'm never going to survive."

"Then do good on your spar." Clary said. "Who could they possible pit you against?"

"It's Eric, who the fuck knows." Al said with a groan.

After chow that morning, they went up to the rooftops. Eric was standing off to the side with Four, Magnus, Damon, Klaus, and Alaric. They had two more weeks of round one before they made their first cuts, and moved on to the last stage.

Bella's aim was exceptional at this point, and she was even hitting her target in the head and chest. The two areas where they wanted them to hit. Tris was doing exceptional, all her shots hitting her target in the chest. The others faired well too, except Al, who hit his target once, and that was on accident.

After firearms, they went back to the training hall. "Alright, we're going to do your sparring today instead of tomorrow, because I've got a treat planned for you all." Eric spoke, and Four and Magnus exchanged a look.

"Bella, Al, up first." Eric said and the pairing shocked Four and Magnus, but they remained quiet, watching Bella get up on the stage, and face off against Al.

Al looked at Bella, his eyes showing the fear that she knew all too well. They took their stances.

"Wait." Eric said, standing next to Bella, so close, it made Bella uncomfortable. "Just so it's clear, I will know if you throw the match for this pathetic excuse for a recruit." He said, his face close to hers.

"You're right. You don't want to challenge me because you're trying to be a bully and prove something." Bella said, the words leaving her mouth and she kicked herself for being too mouthy.

"Is that right? What am I trying to prove?" Eric said, narrowing his eyes.

Bella stared back at him. "You're trying to prove that I give a damn about my comrades, something you clearly lack."

Magnus closed his eyes. Bella was about to get herself killed, and he didn't think he could watch.

"Okay then. I see your bravery. Or your pretend bravery. Don't hold back Bella, not now. Al, get off the stage." Eric said, his eyes not leaving Bella's. "You think you're brave?" He took a stance. "Let's see your bravery."

Magnus started to say something, but Four held up a hand.

"Not part of the training Eric. It's recruits against recruits. You pushed it with adding Klaus to the mix. Stop measuring dick sizes, and let's just get this over so we can make them clean the blood of the mats later." Four said, looking bored, and uninterested.

Eric smirked, crossing his arms. "Okay. You make a point. Al, get back up here. Beat the shit out of him Bella if you don't, you actually lose points." He said and hopped down off the stage.

Bella looked at Al. "I'm sorry." She said, and they started their spar. It didn't take long for Bella to knock Al completely out. His head hit the padded stage, blood coming to his nose, and she shook her hand, clenching it a little before jumping down off the stage herself. She felt anger she never felt before. Angry at Eric for doing that. Al wasn't a bad guy; he didn't deserve any of that.

Eric smirked, looking over at Tris. "Tris, and Alec." He was trying to kill her.

Bella spun. "You really think you're tough, pinning people against someone you know won't be a fair fight."

"Tris put Jace down before. Are you saying your sister isn't capable of fighting Alec?" Eric said, his voice mixed with amusement and irritation.

Bella knew how Alec fought. He was another, no mercy, kind of fighter. Tris wouldn't be able to fight against Alec without getting knocked out. "No, but you know what you're doing."

Magnus didn't know what had gotten into Bella, talking back to Eric like she was, but it intrigued him more, but also made him worry for her.

Eric nodded. "I suggest you go take a shower. Cool off stiff."

Bella clenched her fist.

"Oh ho. Four stopped me before, but if you're willing to tango, I'll tango, little girl." Eric said, definitely more amused by how bold Bella was acting. Not only was he amused, he was irritated that she would defy him, talk back to him, like she was allowed to. "Get up on the stage. Now."

"Eric."

"Shut up Four, I'm the leader here. Bella thinks she can handle it." Eric said, and looked over at Tris. "Tris, get up there."

Bella looked at Tris, frowning. "You're insane."

"Am I?" Eric said, getting up on the stage. "I'll show you just how insane I can be. Let's take a field trip." He said, and he forced everyone to follow them to the catwalk, that was a metal bridge, that linked two of the buildings together. He grabbed Bella's hand and forced her off the side of the catwalk, making her hold on to the side. "How fast will you give up? Hang there, or drop and die."

"Eric." Magnus started.

"I'm not finished." Eric's voice quipped back at Magnus, the anger rolling off him.

Bella hung on to the catwalk, her muscles straining a little, but she didn't give up. Eric looked down at her, grinning, watching her with sick delight that he was making her struggle. She mustered up the strength and then just vaulted herself back up onto the catwalk, getting to her feet.

Eric's smile fell. "You really think you're something."

"Okay, that's it for the day. Tomorrow we have other things to do." Magnus said. "Eric." He said his name again.

Eric stared at Bella, narrowing his eyes. "Watch yourself stiff."

Everyone went back to the sleeping quarters, and Bella stood on the catwalk, looking over the side. Jasper approached her. "You good?"

"Yeah." She said, looking up at him.

"Your life just got a whole lot harder. You realize that right?" Jasper said. "Don't be like me. Keep your head down." He said and then left her to think about that, heading to the showers.

Bella stood there, contemplating everything that happened today. It was true that she made things harder for herself, but she couldn't watch her sister get beat like she had to beat Al. She sighed, and resigned to the showers. Thinking about everything over and over in her head.

Tris finished her shower and decided to break away from everyone, to clear her thoughts. Bella had saved her from being bumped down today. She knew that if she fought Alec, she would be farther from the line. Her firearms hadn't moved her at all, and she was worried, with there only being two weeks left. She looked at the catwalk. Bella had hung there, dangling, one slip and she would have fell to her death. All for protecting her. She still wasn't strong enough. She closed her eyes and then she was pushed from behind, up against the rough concrete wall. She struggled against her assailant, and realized that there were more than one. Four large guys, masked were trying to dump her off the side, trying to kill her, but her adrenaline kicked in. She fought back, and slipped one of the masks off one of her assailants. It was Al. "Al…" She looked at him shocked. They had been training together since the start, both trying to do better.

Four was there suddenly, and he tore them away from Tris, laying them out on the ground, and taking Tris away.

Bella lay on her cot, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind was too active to lay there. Most everyone was sleeping now, so she crept out quietly, going to the training hall. She punched at the bag, letting her anger from the day flow into her strikes. She thought about what Tori told her about being Ascendant. Tris was Ascendant too. Which meant she was capable of so much more, but Tris was afraid of showing her full hand too fast. Bella started off strong, it wouldn't make sense for her to start pulling back now. The simulations were coming up, and honestly, Bella wasn't sure what she was afraid of, but she knew that the simulation would show her.

"You should be sleeping." Magnus' voice sounded from behind her.

Bella dropped her hands and turned and looked at him. "I couldn't sleep."

"You're ruffling Eric's feathers. Standing your ground, throwing the attention on to yourself…not your sister. Why?" Magnus asked.

"Because she's my sister. Alec would have destroyed her." Bella said.

Magnus nodded. "Jace didn't."

"That's because Jace isn't Alec." Bella said. "Have you been paying attention at all?" Her voice was quipped, irritable.

"Okay, yes, I have been paying attention. Alec doesn't show mercy when he fights. Jace's weakness is a pretty girl. He let Tris take him down, and Jasper helped, highlighting his weaknesses."

Bella nodded. "I don't think it's fair to pin the top ten against the bottom fifteen. It's a large margin. At that point, he's just trying to make sure she never gets above that line."

"You're not wrong." Magnus said. "But you have to reel yourself in. Don't put a target on your back. It's one thing to be Dauntless. You're brave, fearless, yada yada yada." He looked at her. "Don't be stupid."

"It's not stupid to protect your comrades. Regardless of who you are. We're a team."

"Also, in competition."

"I'm not going to throw my sister away because Eric is a degenerate." Bella retorted, the frustration clear in her voice.

Magnus studied her. "You're right." He paused. "Eric is a degenerate." He nodded. He understood Eric well. He knew something was going on. When Erudite leaders started throwing around the term Ascendant, and Jeannine Matthews started making secret meetings here in Dauntless, he knew that something was happening. He didn't like it, and he surmised that Four didn't either. "Tomorrow we're playing capture the flag. There are two teams. Four and I are going to co-captain against Eric and Klaus."

"Why are you telling me?"

"Because. Eric will try and get in your head. Don't let him." Magnus said. "Get some rest." He said and left her to herself.

Bella turned and looked at the bag. She sighed, and started hitting it again, wanting to blow off some more of this pent-up angst before trying to sleep.