GRYD - Chapter 11 - Team GRYD Vs. Team PRME

At night, withIn the Headmasters Office in Beacon Academy, Professors Vixi Tod, Lochen Target, and Barker Chestnut stood around the desk of Night, even though he wasn't in it. They patiently stood, and waited for something to happen. Soon enough, Night walked into the office in a hurry.

"Apologies for the wait," he said with a motion as he made his way to his desk and his chair, "I thank you all for coming."

"Nothing to apologize for Night," said Barker with a strong nod

"You're the Headmaster, you're busy." added Vixi

"And we professors are at your beck and call." mocked Lochen

"Be grateful I keep you around Lochen," rebutted Night with a ticked off expression, "if your skills and insight didn't outweigh your...interesting personality, I likely would've fired you by now."

"Promises, promises. Besides, it wouldn't have happened, Vixi would've stopped you."

Vixi laughed loudly at this, "Stopped him? I would've thrown you out myself."

"See? She's warming up to me, last time it was she would've kicked me out."

"The glory of progress." said Barker with a smile, before being shut down by a look from Vixi, "Sorry."

"Don't encourage his delusions." spat out Vixi

"You're the delusional one," said Lochen with a shrug, "it's clear you dig me. Why not just admit it?"

"How about you admit you're a smug son of a-"

"Enough!" overrode Night, standing up, and making them all go silent, to which he sat back down, "Usually I find serenity in you three bickering amongst yourselves, but not tonight. Tonight I need your advice on something important."

"What is your need? asked Barker, folding his arms in curiosity

"As you know, like I always do, I'm slowly working in more and more missions for the students. The newest class has performed rather well in their endeavors, wouldn't you agree?"

"They're not dead if that's what you mean." noted Lochen bluntly

"Not exactly the response I had in mind...but accurate."

Vixi looked at him worried, "What's wrong Night?"

"Wrong? A lot. A lot of mysteries and questions have been arising for some time now, and as if part of a tradition, our school is wrapped up in it. But that's for another time. Tonight, I need you to weigh in on some of the new teams."

"In what fashion?" asked Lochen, now curious himself

Instead of answering right away, Night rose, and then went to the window, and gazed out at the grounds of his Academy, "I'm going to assign a forward mission to the new teams. Ones that I believe they can handle given their current skill level. However, there is one job that requires two teams, and I only want the best of the new class to take on that mission together. So...who are best teams of the new class?"

"MEAL is easily on top," stated Vixi proudly, "Macro is a near perfect leader, and the others follow him without hesitation or complaint. They did well in the forest mission, as well as the rebuilding one. Not to mention they have taken on those odd Grimm and come out on top."

"Macro is a testament to inner and outer fortitude, as well as being able to dissect a situation in the way it needs to be." added Chester

"Oh, and the rest of the team ain't bad either." teased Lochen, "Leilani and Erin specifically have grown a bit in battle since arriving. "

"Very observant." said Vixi reluctantly

"It's one of my many traits. For example, that's a new outfit on you Vixi."

"I don't know whether I should be impressed or horrified."

"Probably both. Heh. But in all seriously, MEAL has my vote too for one of the teams on this "special mission".

"Agreed." acknowledged Chester

Night turned to look at them all, then nodded before gazing back out at the grounds, "Very well, MEAL is in. But who should join them?"

"What about PRME?"

At this, both Vixi and Lochen reacted violently, both with looks of outrage.

"PRME? Are you kidding me?" shot Lochen, "Three of those girls are menaces to society with their "holier than thou" attitudes."

"And don't get me started on their treatment of Elenor, that girl is repeated berated by them." added Vixi

"Yeah, the time she teamed up with Primrose? Primrose stated that she "better not ruin her moment", then when they faced off? She HATED the idea that she lost to Elenor."

"I heard they ignored her for days before talking to her again."

Lochen smirked at Vixi, "I love it that we agree on this."

"I prefer you angry right now," Vixi stated with a wave towards Chester, "focus."

With a shrug, he turned back around. Chester meanwhile just shook his head in disappoint at the two, "While I can agree that their unity is in question, it's only in regards to Ms. Rigby. The three of them though together are quite a unit, I've seen it myself. We talk about how the others in MEAL follow Macro without question, it's the same here with Ms. Madonna."

"You ever notice how you say the first names of the dudes, but not the ones of the dudettes?" remarked Lochen

"It's how I was raised."

"That makes sense I guess."

"Please focus." interjected Night, who again looked at them, but this time more specifically Lochen and Vixi, "If you two don't think PRME is worthy, then who is?"

"GRYD." Vixi said simply

Lochen laughed wryly and walked towards a nearby wall, "Oh boy."

"What?"

"GRYD? Seriously?"

"They're a competent team."

"When timing allows it." noted Chester

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Do we really have to spell it out?" asked Lochen with a look of disbelief, "You got a berserker who is a bloodthirsty lunatic. Who's partner is a brilliant tactician who fought her team leader in a battle the first chance she got. Then on the other side, you have an entertainer who believes that the beauty of her moves matter as much as her striking ability, and then you have Glyph!"

Night waited for Lochen to note Glyph's issues, but he didn't, so he turned to him, "What's your concern with Glyph?"

"That he's going to kill us if he snaps...again."

"He's not the same as he was then."

Lochen stepped closer to Night, "That's what worries me. Yeah, he says all the right things, he defends everyone he can. I dig him a bunch for what he does to PRME when they step out of line. But..."

"But?" wondered Vixi

"He's too quiet, too withdrawn. I don't know what you were thinking making him leader. Maybe you thought he could redeem himself somehow, but that kid is a time bomb. I saw it when Primrose insulted Yasmine because she was a Faunus. He took her and Elenor out in the blink of an eye, just because of an insult. I don't care that it was a battle and he was supposed to do that. It was scary."

"I heard you laughed it off when it happened." revealed Chester

"I did. It was funny at the time. GKO. But when I saw him fight Yasmine? Fight the Grimm outside the school? The blank face he has when he fights? That worries me."

"That's legitimate I guess," said Vixi with a shake of her head, "but, we're talking about best teams, and they do follow Glyph. Even Reyson respects him."

"Because he likes that Glyph's as strong as him. Game respects game."

"It doesn't matter. As a team, their squabbles aside, they work. They were the ones who fought that...mutated Goliath along with MEAL. It was Glyph who risked everything to save Leilani and Yasmine from those attackers. Diana has fought off Grimm all on her own, and Yasmine is one of the most brilliant girls I've ever seen."

"But unlike PRME," stepped in Chester, "They're not all in unity. Not even three of them. Diana follows Glyph out of love, or some facsimile of it..."

"That sounds familiar," Vixi said with a scoff

"You'll love me eventually," teased Lochen

Chester cleared his throat so they would go quiet, "Reyson may respect Glyph, but he'll go off on his own when the bloodlust grabs him. Only Yasmine will follow Glyph without question, and that was because of the respect she gained for him after their fight. Which while I respect, is not something I recommend for long-term trust building. Even if we talk partners relationships. Glyph tolerates Diana, while Yasmine and Reyson simply do not get along."

"That sounds familiar." repeated Night, which made the rest go quiet

Night looked out at the grounds, just gazing upon the stillness of the night, pondering what may come, and what will come. The others looked to each other in concern, but didn't speak out of respect.

Eventually, Night returned to his desk and sat down, "Chester, your vote is for PRME?"

Chester nodded, "Yes."

"Vixi? You maintain that GRYD is the best option to accompany MEAL?"

"Yes, if for no other reason than they're already great friends with MEAL. PRME and MEAL wouldn't be a good fit for a mission of great importance."

Night strummed his desk as he thought of this, "Lochen? Where do you vote?"

Lochen smiled and put up his hands in a sign of not getting involved, "I don't. MEAL is the only team I think is good for anything serious. PRME and GRYD? Yeah, they're the next best option, by far even, but I can't pick between what I think are two bad options."

"Then, to not show favoritism, and to let the unity and leadership of the teams shine through, I suggest a special match. Team GRYD vs. Team PRME."

The professors each reacted in their own way. Vixi was taken aback, Chester was baffled, while Lochen cackled madly, "I love it!"

"Is fighting really the best way to settle this?" asked Vixi

Chester moved towards Night and got his attention, "I'm with Vixi, this would be unfair. Glyph can take down any opponent on his own. A team would pose no threat even without the rest of GRYD"

Lochen whistled so that the others would look at him, "If this was last year, then yes. But Glyph doesn't use his Semblance unless absolutely necessary. If we give him the proper...nudge, he'll make sure he doesn't do it."

"What nudge?" queried Night intrigued

"This is about seeing which TEAM is best, right? See who can follow orders? Be the best they can be for each other when the pressure is on? Right?"

"Right."

With a smile, Lochen leaned onto Night's desk, "So we tell them what's at stake. You come in just before combat practice ends and say that there will be a match between GRYD and PRME to see who is ready for a "special mission". You note that the winner will not just be the victors of the match, but the one that works best as a team. You do that? Glyph won't use his Semblance, he'll know it'll hurt his teams' chances. And as much as he's a time bomb, while he's dormant, he'll never hurt his team if he can help it."

"Thoughts?" posed Night to the other two

Vixi shrugged, "I still don't like, but it does seem the best option under the circumstances."

"If Glyph restricts himself, and we do make it about the team cohesion and not just who wins...it could work." acknowledged Chester

Lochen laughed and motioned to the others to show how they agreed with him. Night laughed himself, then nodded, "Then it's settled. I'll make the announcement tomorrow. Thank you for your input, you're dismissed."

One by one they all left, with Lochen leaving last, but stopping just before getting fully out the door, and turning to Night, "What's the mission Night? That you're sending the "lucky teams" on?"

"A very important one Lochen. Good night." he said before turning away

Lochen held his gaze, but then left, and shut the door behind him. Once he was sure the others were gone, Night reached into his desk and pulled out a file. On it, was the symbol of the Heralds of Purity. He glared at the symbol intensely.

The next day, combat practice took place. Numerous matches were had, and by the end, even Lochen was pleased with the results. He clapped for them in appreciation as he addressed the students, "Well done you lot. Really good matches today. Now, before you think I'm letting you off early...I'm not. We have a special guest who wants to talk to you."

He motioned to the entranceway, and Night entered the amphitheater and stood by Lochen's side, "Good afternoon students."

"Good afternoon Headmaster." they echoed back

"Next week, you and your teams will be partaking in another mission. But unlike previous ones, this one will be a full-on Huntsman/Huntress mission. One that you will have to do...unsupervised."

The students reacted to this by chatting with their teams, Night held up a hand to silence them, and they eventually did so.

"Thank you. Now, all of these missions are well within your skill levels. However, there is one mission that will require a certain caliber of team. Even then, they're not going alone, as two teams will be assigned to this. After consulting with your professors, the first selected team is Team MEAL."

He motioned to them, and a scattered applause filled the theater as others showed appreciation to them. Night smiled at this, "Yes, they are to be commended. All the professors recommended you. Now, as for who you are to go on this mission with. That wasn't so clear. Two teams were singled out as potential candidates. Since this will be a very dangerous mission, it seemed only fair that these two teams battle it out to see who goes on it."

The students went quiet as they waited to see who would battle for the right to do the mission, Lochen laughed at the silence that filled the room, "Awkward silence."

"The two teams selected for this...competition, are Team PRME and Team GRYD."

Another mixed reaction hit the students, some in surprise, some in disappointment, Night stymied this before it got out of hand, "Do not be mad that you didn't get selected. Instead, take this as an opportunity to try and improve. Only through growth can you be trusted to do such missions and not die during them. Now, Team PRME, Team GRYD, this battle will not just be a match to see who is left standing. No, it's one that's meant to show you can work as a team in order to get a goal done. This is not about a singular effort by a strong warrior, or a tactician. It's about showing you can work side-by-side with your team, and overcome anything put in front of you. Only the team that shows that will be declared worthy for the mission. Regardless of who's standing at the end. Am I understood?"

He looked directly at the teams, who nodded in acknowledgement of what he was asking. He turned to Lochen, who nodded that he had done it the right way.

With a sigh of relief, he looked at the teams again, "Good. Your match will take place in two days. Use this time, between classes of course, to work together and build a good strategy, as well as a team dynamic. I will be watching this match. So be ready."

After a nod to Lochen, Night left the room, and soon after, everyone else did.

A while later, in the room of Team GRYD, Glyph, Reyson, Yasmine, and Diana were joined by Team MEAL, as they discussed what had been revealed to them by Night.

"You HAVE to win that fight." exclaimed Macro in a way that surprised the others, "What? I can get emotional when I need to."

"He's right," added Leilani, "I can't stand PRME, especially after what they did to me. We can't be on a mission with them."

"The only good one of the bunch is Elenor," Erin said with a sad smile, "and one good egg doesn't save a bunch of rotting ones. What were the professors thinking selecting them?

Aaron made a noise in his throat to get their attention, "Despite our hatred of PRME, or most of PRME, it's hard to deny that Primrose, Maggie, and Rita do get along with each other very well. As a trio, they are strong. Just like they were at Signal. No doubt one of the professors noticed that."

Yasmine nodded at the logic, "Agreed, they're pains in the put, but they're not to be underestimated."

"Bah!" spat out Reyson, drawing Yasmine's ire, "I don't need to underestimate them. Between me and Glyph we can take them all out. Oh, and you two can help if you want."

"In one sentence, you just proved you heard nothing of what Night said outside of us battling PRME."

"Your point?"

Diana snapped her fingers in front of Reyson to get his gaze, "The point Reyson, is that Night wants us to work as a team, not individuals. If we go rogue, we're not on the missions. Which means no "special battles" for you!

This seemed to sober up Reyson, who adopted a more calm and attentive pose, "Ok, you have my attention. Fearless leader? What say you?"

Glyph looked at his escrima, which he held in his hands, then looked up at the others, "We need to train. Together. United. Macro?"

"Yeah?" he replied

"Will you help? 4v4 is the only way to prepare for this."

"No problem, anything to get you all with us."

"Good, let's go."

On the other side of the school, Primrose marched in front of Maggie, Rita, and Elenor. Her expression was fierce, yet focused, "Alright, here's the deal. We NEED to win this. Not just for the glory, and the mission personally handed to us by Night, but also to finally stick it to Glyph and his...friends."

Maggie and Rita snickered at this, Elenor however looked away sadly.

Primrose continued to march back and forth between them all, "We must be ready, to prepare for all contingencies. As it so happens, I don't think Glyph will use his Semblance because of the focus on teams rather than individuals."

"Makes sense." said Maggie with a nod

Rita nodded too, "He only uses it nowadays because of necessity, not desire. If he takes us all down alone? We win."

"True." said Primrose, stopping to ponder scenarios, "And while usually I'd be up for a trick to make Glyph try and...GKO us...I'd rather we win it ourselves. I want to beat him, badly. So no screw ups! Am I understood?"

At the end of the question she glared towards to Elenor, who again looked away. When she saw this, she marched up to her and got in her face, "I said, understood."

To her surprise, before Elenor could respond, Rita pushed her back. This got a reaction from the other three, but Rita stood firm, "Hey! Enough. Elenor hasn't done anything, and she's not a weak link. Or did you forget she beat you in combat practice?"

Elenor gaped at Rita's defense of her, while Primrose began to fume, "That was luck."

"That was skill Primrose. Elenor is good in a fight, and she's smart. And just as its true that Glyph can't win the battle for his team, we also can't win if we don't show we can work with Elenor. Right?"

The two glare at the other, but Primrose relents begrudgingly, "You're...right. You're right. I'm...sorry Elenor."

"It's ok." Elenor replied meekly

"Whatever, moving on. Let's talk strategy!"

As she again marched between them, Elenor looked at Rita and mouthed "Thank you". To which Rita smiled smally and looked away so she could hear Primrose's plan for battle.

In the clearing in front of the school, GRYD and MEAL had a practice bout. What quickly became apparent though, was that while MEAL was functioning like a team, GRYD's teamwork was very sporadic. At times it would happen, but other times the members of GRYD would function on their own, without consideration for the others.

The only one who didn't do this was Glyph, who constantly tried to work together with the others, but with only short term success. Sure enough, with Macro guiding them, MEAL started to beat GRYD by taking out most of them, only Glyph remained standing by the end of the battle. And he dropped his escrima in a sign of surrender.

"Enough. We lose." he said bluntly, his face mired with disappoint

"Fair enough." said Macro, sharing his look, "Let's help them up guys."

One by one the others got back up, each with their own looks of disappointment. While the others chatted and recovered, Glyph pulled Macro to the side to talk.

"What do I do?" he asked

"What you always do Glyph, be blunt."

"Seriously?"

Macro laughed at the irony he say, "My father has a saying. Brothers may be forged in battle. But sometimes to get the point across? You got to smack them on the head."

"There's enough fighting on my team already." Glyph remarked blunty

"Yeah...that's true. But still try. Not hurting them, but speaking bluntly with them It's worked before, right?"

"I thought so. Not sure now."

Glyph looked at his team, confusion on how to "fix" them heavy on his mind. Macro watched as his friend beat himself up, but then became alight with an idea, "There may be another way."

He turned to Macro, "I'm listening."

"My father had another saying, nothing says I'll protect you like taking a bullet."

"You want me to get shot?"

"No...maybe, I don't know. Look, to them? You're untouchable in a lot of ways. Show them you're willing to take one for them, they might react to that."

"...ok. I'll see what I can do. Mind taking your team out? I want to talk to mine alone."

"Sure thing."

Macro headed over and gathered Leilani and the Lovers, then departed. Now alone, Yasmine, Diana, and Reyson almost immediately began to bicker.

"We need to work together more." said Yasmine

Reyson scoffed, "Let me guess, listen to your plans?"

"It'd be a start, for sure."

"And what happens if you get taken out?" shot back Diana

"Then rely on one another while I recover!"

"Like you rely on us? I didn't see you asking us what to do?

"That's not-"

"Your role?" interjected Reyson angrily, "Right, because you're right all the time, right? Yasmine! Strategist Supreme!"

Yasmine glared viciously at Reyson, "At least I try and do something strategic while you rush into any battle just swinging like an idiot! Oh, I'm sorry, "barbarian." Just so you know, there's not much a difference! Oh wait, there is, barbarians are smarter than you!"

"You wanna go you little-"

"ENOUGH!" roared Glyph

The others looked at him in surprise. Rarely did Glyph get this anger as to raised his voice like that. More than that, his expression was livid, ripe with rage.

"Is this who we truly are? Hmm?" he asked agitated

"Glyph..." started Diana, but a motion from him shut her down

"Don't. Look at us. How is it, that after all we've been through, we still act like this? After the Goliath, the in-fighting, the Boarbatusk's, the Heralds, after risking our lives for one another, we still do this? Still argue like this?"

"Is it really-?" Reyson scoffed but Glyph silenced him by getting right up in his face

"SHUT UP REYSON!"

The two stared down, Yasmine and Diana got very worried at this, as the two looked to be coming close to blows.

"You and your bloodlust. I get it. I really do, but that doesn't excuse what you do. Do you want to die? Is that it? Is that why you rush in like you do? Hmm? And when you don't get it, is that why you argue with me? Diana? And Yasmine? Is that why you hate her? Because she's so calm, collected? The opposite of you? Does that offend you to the extent you have to barb her all the time."

Reyson didn't respond, but merely looked away angrily. Glyph went to Yasmine next, who was surprised he looked at her like he did Reyson.

"Surprised you're next?"

"A little. I listen to you."

"You do, and I'm grateful. You don't listen to them though." he said with a point to Reyson and Diana, "At first? I didn't get it. Reyson makes you angry, sure. But Diana? Wasn't sure on that. Then I saw it, repeatedly. You don't like dealing with people you think are under you, dumber than you, so you push back. You know now I'm not like that, so you don't challenge me. But them? Not so much. No one is beneath anyone. Doesn't matter about strength or intelligence or skill. Doing that? Makes you no better than Primrose."

Yasmine got nearly incensed by this remark, and also looked away. Which made him go straight to Diana, who actually looked at him with a smile, "Can't wait to hear this."

"You mystify me, you know that?"

"I try."

"No jokes Diana."

"Who's joking?"

"Hmph. You hugged me the other day, said to me, you wanted me to know that someone else cares. Someone who didn't mind my past. That meant a lot. But if you really cared about me? You'd be working just as hard to keep this team together, as you are trying to get with me."

Reyson snickered at this, but was again shot down by a look from Glyph.

"You are great Diana, when you care, I do like that about you. But the rest of the time? When you don't care? That's what angers me, and the others. Know when to care, even if it doesn't matter to you. That's what being a friend, being a partner, is all about."

She lowered her head to avoid his gaze. Now done, Glyph stepped away from them, then took out his escrima and held them out.

"I know I probably just drove us further apart. But honestly? It's better this is all out in the open. We should be so tight right now, but we're not. This is my fault too. I'm failing you as a leader, and as a friend, and I'm sorry. I am. But we can't keep doing this. Falling into old routines and habits when things don't go our way. Macro's right, we need to be the team that goes with them on that mission. For their sake, as well as ours. I'm fighting in that match, and I'll try and be the leader you need me to be. If you're game, and really want to try and fight as one like before? Bring these to me before the match."

He let go of his escrima and teleported away. Leaving the others to look at the ground where his weapons now laid.

The next day passed, and no one saw Glyph. He wasn't in their room, or in their classes. When their professors asked where he was, they couldn't respond. Lochen especially seemed put off by this, but didn't push the issue. Not even Macro knew where he was.

"If I knew, I'd tell you. But I will say this, take the hint." he noted to them when they asked him about Glyph

Despite this warning, the others didn't practice for the match, they could barely look at one another at times. Yet, as the match with PRME got closer, they started to realize the truth, and talked for the first time since Glyph's blow up.

A new day soon arrived, and talk around the school was all about Team GRYD vs. TEAM PRME, with most of it focused around what the mission was that they were going on, as well as where Glyph was. When combat practice arrived, all the students sat in the seats on the upper deck. Lochen stood in front of the stage.

He opened his arms widely and smiled, "Today. Is a very special day. It's Beacon Academy combat at its finest. Two teams, fighting to prove they're worthy of a great task. It's going to be fun. So, GRYD, PRME, please come down here."

PRME was the first to rise and depart. Reyson, Yasmine, and Diana looked nervously to one another before rising up. Lochen frowned when he saw only three of them rising, "Wait, where is...?"

A small noise behind him was heard, and the crowd gasped, which made Lochen smile. He turned around to see Glyph standing in the middle of one side of the battle stage.

"Ah, there you are. Was wondering where you went to Glyph. Ok, now we can do this. Get down here you three!"

With haste, the others reached the lower levels. Glyph didn't look at them as they entered though, rather, he just stared off into the space that was now filled with Team PRME. Diana was the first to reach him. She held out her hand, in it was one of his escrima.

"I think you dropped this." she said simply

He looked at her, then took it. Yasmine came up next, and handed him the other one and nodded to him in acknowledgement of what he had said the previous day. Reyson brought up the rear and scoffed at him, "You did realize that there were three of us, and only two of your weapons, right?"

Glyph looked at him displeased, but then cracked a smile, "Yeah, about 30 seconds after I teleported away."

They all shared a laugh, Reyson nodded in appreciation of the honestly, "Acceptance is the first step, right?"

"Right. And my point got made, right?"

"Right."

"Right." added Yasmine

"Right," replied Diana, who then leaned in closer, "partner."

Glyph laughed again, "Couldn't help yourself, huh?

"Can't change overnight."

With another nod to the team, they stood next to each other and showed Lochen they were ready to fight. He seemed please that they talked just before the battle, and made sure they were done before addressing them all.

"Ok, remember, this is about teamwork, not just about winning. Show us what you can do as a team. Same rules apply though, when you get enough damage, you are out. Last team standing is the victor of the bout. Don't get confused on the goal, ok? Start when the buzzer sounds."

The lights dimmed as Lochen stepped away. Both sides readied their weapons. Glyph's escrima, Reyson kopeshes, Yasmine's lance, Diana's Whip on one side. On the other, Primrose's poleax, Rita's tomohawks. Maggie's two-pronged rapier, and Elenor's tonfa. Both sides waited eagerly for the buzzer to sound.

Soon it did, and Primrose pointed her ax at them, "Charge!"

Glyph was just as quick though, "Yasmine! Matchups!"

Yasmine's eyes flashed quickly, "Diana, take Maggie. Reyson, Primrose, Glyph, you got Rita, I'll take Elenor."

"You heard her, go!"

Just as PRME reached them, they dodged out of their initial attacks, then matched up with their assigned targets and did battle.

Reyson battled Primrose, his swords allowing him to not only block her poleaxe, but also parry and land blows of his own. He laughed at every strike he landed on her, "Come on! I heard you were good! Oh wait, that's only the hallways when you bully people, right?"

"Why you little..."

She jumped back, then built up momentum in her poleax and slammed it into the ground, sending a wave of energy at him. He smirked as he dodged it, then stuck out his tongue, which made her do it again, and again. Reyson dodged every time and got in close, allowing him to attach again.

With Diana and Maggie, the former used her whip to keep the other at a distance. For as Maggie's weapon was short range, and Diana's whip had reach, she could keep her away without ruining her motions.

Every passing second she wasn't doing anything frustrated Maggie, "Stop dancing and fight you wannabe dancer!"

This made Diana stop in place, "Wannabe? Who do you think you're talking to? Allow me to show you the elegance of dance!"

With a click of her whip handle, all of the gun ports on the weapon opened up, and with a flurry of motion, Diana unleashed a barrage of dust bolts at Maggie, which forced to dodge. After letting up to catch her breath, even Maggie seemed impressed, "Nice shots, my turn."

Maggie held her sword upright, and between the prongs of her sword, and energy glowed. She smiled as she extended the sword towards Diana, unleashing a bolt of Dust at her. While Diana dodged in time, she was very surprised by the turn of events.

Maggie picked up on this and gloated, "What's wrong? Didn't know I could that?"

"Actually, no." admitted Diana getting back to her feet, "But now I do, so let's go!"

Nearby, Glyph and Rita did battle. Glyph's escrima were a perfect match for Rita's tomahawks, the two clashed intensely as they tried to get the upperhand on the other. Glyph however was a better fighter, and consistently got an upperhand on Rita. To counter this, Rita used her Semblance to multiply her weapons, and used the excess ones to try and upend Glyph's battle style. But Glyph was unaffected, and either dodged, blocked, or even caught the tomahawks and returned them to sender.

When one of her own weapons hurt her, Rita let out a primal scream and glared at him, "Why won't you just take a hit?"

"Old habit." said Glyph with a shrug

Finally, Yasmine took on Elenor. Despite Yasmine's Semblance, Elenor was doing her best to hold her own. To change things up, Yasmine only used one of her drones, while having one lance in her hands. This allowed her to challenge Elenor on two levels of play. This strategy began to overwhelm Elenor, and each strike made her more and more desperate.

"I could use some help!" she cried out

Rita heard this, and getting a break from Glyph during a strike, made a copy of her tomahawk and threw it at Yasmine full force. Glyph saw this, and on instinct teleported right in front of Yasmine, taking the hit from the tomahawk in the shoulder.

"Glyph!" shouted Yasmine concerned as he fell to one knee in pain

Elenor saw the opportunity and used the gun end of her tonfa to send Yasmine flying backwards. As Glyph stood up, he saw Rita rushing in to assist Elenor in taking him on.

Reyson took his eye off of Primrose when he saw Yasmine get hurt, which allowed her to land a cheap shot, stunning him. But instead of finishing him off, she turned and saw Diana had her back to her. Smiling at the opportunity, she slammed her ax into the ground, and sent an energy wave towards Diana.

"Behind you Diana!" Reyson yelled just in time, for Diana saw the attack and jumped out of the way, Reyson got back to his feet and glared at Primrose, "You like cheap shots huh?"

He rushed Primrose, Aura Charge building up as he did. He slammed into her, but actually used the Charge to hold onto her, and with some guidance, aimed it towards Elenor, Rita, and then Maggie. Only releasing it when all four where in the Aura's clutch. After he released the, he met up with the others from GRYD.

Yasmine handed him his swords, "Drop something?"

"Had to lighten the load, needed to help you after all." he replied with a smirk

"Thank you."

"Bond later," teased Diana, readying herself for round two, "they're getting back up."

Sure enough, all of PRME rose back up, Primrose and Maggie looking especially ticked, while Rita and Elenor were just glaring at them intensely.

"Your move." challenged Glyph, readying himself for action along with the rest

Answering the call, the others charged. GRYD readied themselves for battle.

"Partner up! 2v2!"

Glyph and Diana took on Primrose, while Reyson and Yasmine took on Rita and Elenor. The difference this time though was night and day. For whatever reason, GRYD's partner teams clicked, while only Rita and Elenor were semi-functional on the other side.

For Glyph and Diana, they worked the attacks within the style set of the other. Glyph actually wove in and out of Diana's dance moves so that neither Primrose or Maggie could get them. Meanwhile, Reyson actually listened to Yasmine as she shouted out where he should attack. He even took a hit when Rita tried to take out Yasmine's drone.

With their teams now in sync, the pushed PRME back towards one another. While Diana and Yasmine made sure they didn't get away from where they wanted, Reyson and Glyph readied their guns, and standing shoulder to shoulder, released their charged blasts.

"Bang." Reyson said with a smirk

"Bang." added Glyph with a smirk of his own

The twos combined charge hit PRME broadside, and sent them all flying. The moment they hit the ground, the buzzer sounded, and the match was over. Team GRYD smiled as they heard the sound of their victory, and began to rejoice with one another when the sound of loud clapping filled the air.

They turned to see Lochen was the one clapping, a sincere smile on his face, "Well done, all of you. Team GRYD, you are the victor of the match, but as for who did better as a team...well...that's for him to decide."

He motioned behind him, and they all looked to see Night approaching, his face blank. But once he got close enough, he looked at both sides equally, "Well done, we were right to choose you. However, a choice is clear. Team PRME, while you did well to start, even saving your teammate from a certain defeat, when the pressure came on, you crumpled. Whereas you GRYD, rose to the challenge. You took hits for one another, worked in conjunction with one another, and as a team, defeated your opponents. Well done. You will join MEAL on the mission next week. Get some rest, you'll need it for what's coming."

With a small bow to them all, he turned and left. Lochen gave GRYD a thumbs-up and followed. PRME got up and left, Primrose visibly furious while the others sulked at the loss. GRYD meanwhile just smiled at their victory and laughed with one another.

"That was nice," noted Reyson, "a true team effort. And that finishing move Glyph? Epic."

"I'm still shocked you listened to me in battle." revealed Yasmine with a smirk similar to what Reyson usually does

"It felt right."

"Speaking of feeling right..." stated Diana with a curious look to Glyph, "how did battling with me feel, partner?"

"Elegant."

She smiled pleased and winked at him, "Though so."

"Don't push it Diana." Glyph replied with a roll of his eyes, "But honestly, great job, all of you. We earned that victory."

Reyson shrugged, "Maybe, but if you didn't push us, it wouldn't have happened. We're sorry for how we are."

"Don't be sorry, just try and be better."

Yasmine nodded, "We will be. This time, we'll keep the promise.

Diana laughed, "Yeah, and with you guiding us, we'll stay this way. We'll be a true team. You'll see."

This time Glyph time, "Sorry about the bluntness but, it's about time."

They all shared in a laugh that filled up the amphitheater.

*credits*