Hey it's Cerberus, so obviously this chapter came out longer than I originally hoped. With my job taking its toll on me as well as some unexpected changes in my personal life it definitely hindered my time to work on this. I really wish I could get this done sooner but I don't know how long these stress filled days will continue for, but that doesn't mean that I will stop. I will continue to write to the best of my abilities, all I ask is for your patience and understanding. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story and have a great day.
SSSN vs NDGO
After watching team JNPR advance to the next round both Ruby and myself decided to grab some snacks at one of the concession stands while we waited for the next fight to start. As we waited in line we noticed some more soldiers walking the area on the lookout for me but fortunately they weren't paying any attention in my general direction at the moment.
Ruby: Hey are you sure it's a good idea to stick around, maybe you should head back before you get caught.
Carlos: Believe me I want to avoid getting arrested as much as the rest of you, but I promised you guys that I would stay and watch your fights. Once Sun and Neptune finish theirs it'll be over for the day and we can head back.
As we got our snacks we walked back to our seats as Sun and his team were introduced along with their opponents, an all girl team named team NDGO.
Ruby: So this is the team that they're going up against?
Jonathan: Yeah, from what I could get from my research the leader Nebula uses a crossbow/sword, Dew uses a spear, Gwen uses throwing knives in a fighting style similar to ballet, and finally Octavia uses a kris that uses fire dust to create fire like shockwaves.
Blake: So overall they have a decent balance between close and medium to long range combat.
Jonathan: Exactly, time to see how Sun and his team handle themselves in this fight.
As the crowd began cheering, Weiss couldn't help but show her support for Neptune.
Weiss: Good luck, Neptune!
Unfortunately she was in for a surprise when Neptune began trying to flirt with the enemy team and she expressed her anger quite thoroughly.
Neptune: Ladies.
Weiss: Break his stupid face team NDGO!!!!
Carlos: That was fast.
Neptune: Alright girls, try and remember; hands above the waist.
Sun: Ignore him, for he... yeah, he's dumb.
As we waited for the arena to change into its selected sections I began to feel my spider sense go off again. I quickly took a look around and I noticed Mercury and Cinder looking in our general direction for a split second before walking away like nothing happened.
Carlos: ( I better keep my distance from them if I want to make it through this. )
As I turned my attention back to the arena I caught the look on Neptune's face as soon as he realized that part of the area was now flooded with water.
Ruby: Uhh, what's wrong with Neptune?
Jonathan: He's afraid of water.
Weiss: Seriously? But his name is Neptune.
Carlos: Jonathan please tell me you're recording this.
Jonathan: Way ahead of you.
I looked over to him and saw three small drones recording the fight onto his scroll, all of them focusing on Neptune's scared face from multiple angles.
Weiss: Serves him right, please send me a copy when you're done.
As the fight began Neptune decided to run as far away from the water as possible and took up a spot on the opposing side of the arena.
Sage: Neptune, what are you doing?!
Neptune: Uhh, you know, getting the higher ground!
Sun: On the enemy's side?!
Neptune: They'd never see it coming!
Dew: He's not wrong.
Nebula: Open fire!
Once the order was given all of team NDGO run toward Neptune while the rest of his team follow closely behind, soon Dew splits off from her teammates and engages in a fight with Sage. After a brief clash Dew uses her weapon to create 3 small tornadoes that quickly surrounded Sage only to join together into a much larger one that not only disarmed him but also managed to easily knock him out of the ring.
Oobleck: And NDGO gains the advantage!
Carlos: Wow, I guess she blew him away!
Yang:He must have gone with the wind.
Jonathan: Please stop. Ruby do you have the jar?
Ruby: Sure do. Yang, Carlos pay up.
Ruby then shakes an empty jar in front of us that has a label that reads " bad jokes 1 lien each " written in crayon.
Yang: Ruby, where did you get that jar?
Ruby: From one of my old secret cookie stashes, now both of you pay up.
As we payed we turned our attention back to the fight, with Sage knocked out of the fight it was up to the remaining members of team SSSN to continue forward. However Octavia had other ideas as she tried to blindside both Sun and Scarlet by creating a dust cloud with her weapon, however Sun's quick thinking led to Octavia being distracted by Neptune just long enough for Sun to get in close and after exchanging a few blows the match was tied up once again with both teams down to three members. It wasn't much longer until the fighting reached the abandoned pirate ship located on the field, I began feeling just a little jealous since they get to fight in a pirate ship and that's something my brother and I have wanted to do ever since we were little. The battle began drawing to its conclusion when Sun accidentally knocks out his teammate Scarlet with some coconuts that where aimed just a little bit too low, seeing it actually happen was so funny that I had to control myself from laughing so hard so I wouldn't fall out of my seat.
Jonathan: ( chuckling ) Well it's like they say, it's always funnier when it happens to someone else.
Sun was now basically outnumbered with the remaining members of team NDGO ready to join up against him, however as he was about to be attacked by Dew she was suddenly shot into the water by Neptune. After some convincing Neptune finally got close enough to the water to use his weapon and electrocuted the girls in a single move that ended the fight with their team as the winner.
Ruby: Aw, that was so close!
Yang: Looks like the dorks made it to the next round.
As we left the coliseum we were soon separated thanks to the large crowd of people, as I finally freed myself I ended up bumping into the last person I wanted to see.
Ironwood: Oh, excuse me I didn't mean to bump into you young man.
Carlos: N-No problem at all, Mr. Ironwood sir.
Before I could say or do anything that might expose my identity I felt Blake grabbing my hand.
Blake: There you are, come on the others were looking for you.
As we made our way to the bullheads I noticed that the others weren't with us.
Carlos: Where did everyone go?
Blake: Well Ruby and Jonathan decided to go with Weiss since she said her sister is arriving at Beacon and Yang went back to the dorm to get some rest.
Carlos: Oh alright. At least this gives us some time to spend together, do want to head into the city for a bit?
Blake: Yeah that sounds nice, especially now that the matches are over for the day and my project is finished.
Carlos: I've actually wanted to ask you about that. What exactly is this secret project of yours anyway?
Blake: Sorry but I can't say, you'll have to wait until the end of the tournament to find out.
As we landed we made our way around the city and soon Blake had led me to a clothing store to pick up some new clothes for our trip to her parents. As she looked over some of the items I began feeling guilty about what was going to happen in the next few days, what's worse is the possibility that something that didn't happen before might make things even more difficult than what happened originally. I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice Blake placing her hand against my face and looking a bit worried.
Blake: Carlos what's wrong, you look very distracted right now.
I didn't want to lie to her anymore, I just wanted to tell her everything. How I didn't belong in this world and what was going to happen to Beacon, to the city, to all of us. As I looked into her eyes, the same eyes that gave me so much comfort, this time I only felt so much guilt and anger at myself for lying to her and the others.
Carlos: I'm sorry Blake, I just... I just have a lot on my mind right now.
She could easily see the fear and sadness in my eyes so she just hugged me in an attempt to comfort me, I quickly wrapped my arms around her waist and tried to only focus on her.
Blake: You told me before the festival started that you were worried about something happening. You told me that was the reason you were training so hard, because you wanted to be ready to protect us in case something did happen. I will tell you what I told you then, you aren't alone, we will stand by you and fight with you. Don't forget that you have me, I will always be there for you, just as you were there for me.
After a few more minutes we continued with our evening and soon we made our way back to Beacon. Just as we were about to reach my dorm I got a text from Jonathan saying how Ozpin wanted me to call him as soon as I could. After a minute or so Ozpin finally answered and what he was about to tell me wasn't exactly good news.
Ozpin: Thank you for calling me on such short notice, before I go into the reason for this call I wanted to make sure that both you and your brother are doing well.
Carlos: Yeah, so far we're doing alright, but Ozpin if this is about that... discussion from the other day than it's as we explained earlier. I'm afraid we can't get into anymore detail than what we already told you.
I had to be careful with what I said since Blake was in the room with me fixing up some of the clothes she got me today.
Ozpin: Do not worry, I'm aware that you are unfortunately restricted in what information you can and can't release at this time. The reason why I wanted to contact you was because we have a situation on our hands that demands your attention.
Carlos: If it's about Ironwood labeling me as Vale's most wanted than I'm afraid you're a little too late for that.
Ozpin: No not that, although I do want to apologize, I was just as surprised about his actions but it would seem he is rather adamant about it. In fact he has been acting rather strange the last few days and I suspect he might be onto you.
This wasn't good, if Ironwood was already suspicious of me than things were about to be more complicated than I thought.
Carlos: How is he onto me exactly?
Ozpin: It would seem he has been given information by an anonymous source, information regarding the students of Beacon. Now he has requested that the tournament hold an exhibition match between two of its students in the hopes of gauging their abilities against one another.
I didn't like where this was going, and my fears were only confirmed when Blake showed me a notification on her scroll about the newest addition to the tournament.
Ozpin: I'm afraid this is something out of my control, you and Mr. Stark better prepare yourselves, I believe this is only the beginning of our greatest battle that has yet to come.
As he hung up I could only pay attention to the news that was just dropped on me. Before the doubles round begin, the rivalry battle between brothers would take place once again.
