Another time skip here. Also after this chapter they'll be a lot more time skips because the sadistic side of me can't wait to begin writing stage two. . .

"Don't worry Ella," Bella calls out to her friend as Ella, Richard and Cara leave the Pit. "I'm willing to bet there's a number of people that will look after these two trouble makers."

It felt like forever for Issy to finally be allowed back into training after her ribs had healed even if it was only a matter of days. But in those days Issy was left with those god forsaken books to read which made the hours drag by. She had groaned and grumbled at Max when he came on the day after visiting day to check up on her, he had just laughed. Two days later she had finished all of the books and had been released from the Infirmary by Marlene much to her joy.

With the help of her Instructors and occasionally her brothers, Issy got back into training swiftly and started to prepare for the fight they've been waiting for: Issy versus Alec. The twins had trained separately during this time and stuck to sparring with Noah and Cody as they both analysed each others fighting styles. Alec, she had noticed, tended to go for the knees and legs as he started the fight, then aiming for the neck and finishing the fight with a hit to the temple and his kicks were weak at best. Declan and Hugo had been literally bouncing in what Issy thought as nerves as the fighting day drew closer. One time at lunch, the twins had found out who exactly had bet on them. Declan, Four, Lynn, Lauren, Shauna, Blake, Zeke, Christina and one of Eric's friends called Jason who Issy had seen in her nightly wanderings had placed Alec as the winner whereas Hugo, Eric, Tris, Marlene, Will, Josh, Uriah, Bud and Tori had placed Issy as the winner. Yet no one had told them what the losers would be doing so in their free time Issy, Noah, Bree, Alec and Cody had thrown out some of the most stupid, funny and weird ideas to amuse themselves. During training the relationship between Iss and Alec was tense, both were pressured by the bet to win and that this will determine if their rankings drop or rise.

The morning of their fight, the twins had clasped hands and pulled each other into an embrace stating that despite who wins they are siblings and no hard feelings will come of this, it's just a fight. They had broken away from each other and moved to opposite side of the training room to spar with their friends – Cody sparred with Issy and Noah had sparred with Alec and then they would swap when they were half way through the morning session. Four and Eric had came and corrected their stances as the worked until they broke for lunch.

As soon as they left the training room Alec and Issy were back to making fun of each other and their friends like nothing was wrong. Lightly pushing and shoving each other down the halls Bree laughed as Alec nearly fell into a wall.

"Alec, did you just trip?" It seemed weird as out of all of them Alec was the most sure footed when walking in the uneven halls of Dauntless.

"Nah mate, just doing a random gravity check." He grinned as the others laughed around him as they entered the dinning hall. Sitting down at their usual table they were joined by Flare and Lilah along with Declan and Hugo.

Declan appeared upset as he glanced from Alec to Issy. "We won't be able to watch your fight as we're needed in our departments so Eric and Four will tell us but for now let's forget about that." And they did for the time being but when some of the members began to leave the hall in masses Issy's knee started to bounce repeatedly in anticipation. Eric came to the end of the table and looked between the twins.

"It's time."

Cody, Bree and Noah glance at the twins and exchange a look as the twins get up from the table. Declan and Hugo got up with them, wishing them all luck with their fights. Alec follows Bree, Cody and Noah back to the training room as Issy lags behind a few steps. She tries to rid herself of any emotion in her body like she usually does when she fought against her friends but she was having no such luck while she walked to the training room. A large familiar hand took a hold of her upper arm and she stopped in her tracks, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply. The hand loosens and rubs her arm soothingly. It pulls her around until she can feel someone else's warm breath on her face. The hand lets her arm go and moves to her chin, lifting it up as she opens her eyes to see Eric closer than she had thought.

"Don't think of the bet or the rankings, don't think of initiation." His tone is softer than normal and yet it was a tone that Eric had normally when it was just the two of them, Issy dared to say that she liked those moments. "Just think of how it with help your fighting skills and your brother's to improve. One day you might find the difference of either of you living and dying down to hand-to-hand combat." Lines in his forehead appear as his eyebrows furrow. The side of her lip twitches as she thinks his advice over and she raises her eyes to meet his.

"Thank you Eric." A finger brushes her cheek lightly before he pulls away, taking a step back and slides his Leader/Instructor mask back into place.

"Come on, training is starting soon." His soft tone is replaced with the usual bored one he uses to deal with nearly everyone but a few selected people. He starts walking faster with an annoyed look on his face but Issy smiles when he winks at her as he turns a corner with Issy a few steps behind him. Entering the room, Issy scurries towards Bree as Eric moves to where Four stands. Alec throws his sister a questioning look after narrowing his eyes. She can read the question as if it was written on his face. Are you alright? In return she winked at him and smiled. I'm fine. The twins turned to their instructors as Four began speaking.

"Today you'll all be facing the person you haven't fought against. One of you will be fighting twice so all of you with be fighting." Four stares at each of them in turn. "After these fights we'll be moving onto a different type of training but first the matches." The names appear on the board.

Charlie vs Bree

Kayden vs Korey

Noah vs Tom

Zara vs Cody

Tom vs Jess

Alec vs Issy

Last match. They had to wait through five matches before it was their turn. 'I'd rather it had been the first match.' Issy can hear Alec exhale a sigh, obviously he had hoped the same. Almost simultaneously, the twins stood straight and tall, placing their shoulders back and raising their heads. They looked to their Instructors to see Four's mouth twitch. Eric called for the first fight and the wait had begun. It hadn't even gotten to half way of the second match when Issy had started to pace at the back of the crowd. Bree had won her match and Iss was proud of her friend, Bree had won five of her eleven matches. Hopefully that got her a good rank. Issy suddenly stopped pacing and looked around for Four. She found him on the opposite side of the ring to Eric. She made her way to him and asked for permission to go to the punching bags to practice, explaining that she couldn't stand still. Four look to the fight and at something past it before nodding his head. As she made her way to the farthest bag, she was fully aware that Eric's eyes followed her as she moved. Issy only punched and kicked the bag lightly to save her strength. Time seemed to blur together until Four's voice called out.

"Alec vs Issy." Quickly, she jogged over to the ring, brushing past Eric and removing her boots she stepped into the ring after Alec. Alec and Issy nodded at each other as he gets into his stance. Issy closes her eyes and shakes her arms and legs out. Opening her eyes she notices Four and Eric stood side by side with backs straight, arms folded and both tense. When Issy gets into her stance she leaves her right side unprotected, knowing that Alec will go for it.

"Begin!"

As predicted, Alec striked out at her left side. Issy quickly dodged it and swung a fist to his head which he narrowly missed. They both froze for a millisecond, eyes glowing brightly before they lunged at each other, fluttering punches here and there. Some landed and missed. Alec swiftly spun away from his sister's incoming fist, spinning out of reach then spinning in closer, delivering a strong kick to her knee. Issy gasped, dropping to one knee before recovering and taking Alec's feet from underneath him. Landing in a crouch, Alec propelled himself back onto his feet, advancing once more. This fight becomes Issy's longest fight as they dodge, spin and duck each other's fists.

As they go at each other Four announces that it's dinner time and that they can leave if they want to. Bree, Noah and Cody stay to watch, surprisingly so does Kayden. A few minutes into Dinner, the doors of the training room open and those who took the bet pour into the room along with a few Dauntless born initiates and some members having heard of said bet. Not that Issy or Alec notices as Issy throws an elbow forward, clipping Alec's head. He staggers back and Issy follows him, kicking at his knees. Collapsing to the floor Alec spits blood from his mouth at Issy's face and she takes a step back in surprise, wiping the blood and spit from her eyes. Alec once again jumps back up and throws himself forward, pushing Issy into the ground. Alec straddles her as her tries to punch her in the face but she blocks each one. He wheezes as he leans forward when Issy found his pressure point. She reared her head back and slammed her forehead into his, earning many hisses from the crowd that had formed. Her tottered backwards as Issy jumped back onto her feet with a bruise forming on both of their foreheads. Slowly, both of their defences are falling. They take a step back from each other and analyse their options. Alec's face and arms are covered in bruises and his nose is pouring with blood. No doubt he has bruising on his ribs as well as his legs. Issy is just as bruised with blood dribbling from one of her eyebrows. Almost instantly Issy remembers the combo she used on Kayden. Her eyes flash as she steps forward, raising her right fist. Her brother's eyes widen as her takes a step to his right to invade it. His eyes widen more in understanding when Issy smirks, her left fist connecting with his jaw. She follows it up with a punch to his left cheek and an under cut. As he falls to the ground she grabs his head with both of her hands and brings it into her knee. A crack echoes around the room as more blood pours from his nose. With heavy lidded eyes, Alec steps back. Subtly, he nods his head and blinks one eye. He wants out. Issy masks her face as she replies back with a tilt of her head. Alec begins to 'sway' backwards a little bit as his eyes flutter. Issy leans backwards as she clenches her right fist and brings it up. Once again Alec 'sways' forward, falling right into the punch as it connects with his jaw and he collapses to the ground.

She is greeted with silence as she staggers back a step, breathing heavily. Suddenly the room erupts into cheers and she surges forward, falling to her knees next to her brother, slapping his cheek gently. Alec's eyes fluttered open and he groaned in pain. Two pairs of hands came from either side of her, grasping Alec's shoulders and heaving him up. Declan and Hugo partly carried Alec to a bench nearest to the ring. Hugo's face seemed torn between being worried for his brother and celebrating his win. Declan, however, was frowning in both worry and sadness over his loss. Issy got up from the floor and looked over to where her friends were stood. Those who won the bet were smirking, whooping, laughing and generally rubbing it in those that lost faces. Her eyes locked with Eric's who was wearing the biggest shit eating grin par Hugo and Josh and winked at her, rubbing his hands together mischievously. She laughed and walked off of the ring. Members and Dauntless born were throwing their congratulations at her from nearly every direction as the training room began to empty. Before Issy could head towards her brother she was stopped by Kayden. He studied her for a minute before nodding.

"Nice fight Issy." And with that he turned around, nodding at Alec and left the room.

Shaking her head, Issy headed to the bench Alec was sat on and eased herself down next to him. Together they observed the room as the Dauntless born Instructors left the room in a huff and some were still celebrating. They turned to each other, glancing over each bruise, cut and wound on the other's face and started to grin widely before they both burst into laughter, earning a few confused glances. They laughed at each other, at the bet, at the fights, at initiation. They laughed together because of what they've done and been through to get to where they are now. They laughed because through all of that they were still best friends, siblings, still strong together and apart. They laughed because they could. Giggles replaced laughter and they sat leaning against each other, borrowing strength from one another when Marlene came back with a med kit and kneeled in front of them. Marlene smiled and shook her head at the pair as she check Issy over first and handed over the necessary creams and salves before moving onto Alec. Declan sat next to Issy as she opened on of the tubs.

"Good to see nothing will get between you both." He takes the tub off of her and scoops some cream onto his fingers as Issy rolls her eyes and lifts her tank top for him to apply the cream.

"How's the loss?"

"Stings. I thought with Alec's build of broad shoulders and strong muscles he'd win but I'd never have thought you to be so –" His hand paused as he did to find the right word.

"Relentless?" She offered but Dec shook his head.

"Brutal." He scooped more cream and applied it to her face and neck. From the corner of her eye she could see Hugo doing the same for Alec.

"Well, what can I say? I like winning too much to lose."

Issy's focus is pulled away from Declan's thought on the fight by the training room door opening as Tris and Josh came in carrying take out boxes from the kitchen. The containers were placed on the open area on the floor and opened to reveal a lot of food. They all sat on the floor, laughing together, even those that lost were laughing along, swapping funny stories of their Initiation. Issy realised as she looked around that this, this is why she came to Dauntless, not just because of her test results but because this is what she wanted, what she needed in life to be happy. She smiled at she realised she had finally found a life that's worth living, friends that are worth living for and a home to live that life.Through these stories, Issy found out that Jason was actually Josh's younger brother. Both men were as different as night and day: Josh had long, blond hair that he often had in a loose bun and not a tattoo or piercing on show apart from the viper on his finger whereas Jason had short, black hair with tattoos running up his arms and both ears pierced. The only similarity they have is that they both have a beard.

It came to eight o'clock and nearly all of the boxes were empty as they began to stand. They begun to break off in groups as they left the room but each reason had Issy furrowing her eyebrows because of their cryptic wording. Declan and Hugo walked them to the dorms. As Issy hugged Dec goodnight he pulled her tighter into him.

"Don't be leaving the dorms tonight Iss." Issy pulled back and looked up at him. "I'm serious Issy, don't leave the dorms. Don't worry sis, it'll be fun." Issy huffed and rolled her eyebrows. 'Great, another cryptic answer.' She thought as she entered the dorms.

I hope the fight made sense and that you enjoyed it. Capture The Flag is in the next chapter so stay tuned! :)