Author's Headnote: I've just watched Worthy. And holy hell is it just... wow, like wow wow wow. So, let's just get onto the chapter.
RWBY: Festival of Blood: Crimson Blooded Coffee
Ruby Rose:
Aura Status: 88%
Thirst: Thirsty
Semblance: Wilted Petal Burst
Grades:
- Grimm Studies: B
- History: B -
- Dust Studies: B
- Combat Practice: A
- Mathematics: C +
- Weapon's Smithing: A +
- Tactics: A -
- Training Missions: B
Vytal Rankings:
- Team Fight: Victory Against Team ABRN, Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna will be advancing to the next round.
- Doubles Fight: TBD
Team Relations:
-Weiss Schnee: She's been a lot more chill and friendly since she's been cut off from her family wealth... and started dating Jaune. Her sister thinks Ruby is weird.
-Blake Belladonna: Despite the different sleeping time, the two of them have made the relationship work.
-Yang Xiao Long: Had to tell Sun that she's not allowed to drink liquor. The sister bond is back to its pre-vampiric state. Minus the waking up every now and then.
End of main character status report.
Character Change: Ruby Rose - Jaune Arc
Amity Colosseum, 7:44 PM, Thursday, Locker Rooms
JNPR had just won their fight in the duels. Which was straight after SSSN's. It's weird that they were the last team fight in the tournament. But ah well, tomorrow is the start of the doubles. And than Sunday is the 1v1 matchups.
Team BRNZ was an easy matchup... given that Ren and Pyrrha huddled them all up into one area whilst Nora knocked them all down. It was quite easy. Pyrrha said she wanted to advance to the doubles. Jaune sees why not, the chances for her to fight Penny in the doubles is quite low, so figured Pyrrha and Nora would get JNPR to the singles. He originally wanted Ren, but than masking emotions is only useful for fighting and avoiding grimm... and for some reason creeping Ruby out. Because when Ren used his semblance on Nora back in the fairgrounds, Ruby looked like she saw a ghost. Why would Ren's semblance affect Ruby? That's just strange to think about.
The team were at the Amity Locker room, although it's not for storing clothes, it's for storing dust and ammunition. Jaune's team was putting back the stock ammunition that they'd use for the match. So, it is a locker room... just not the typical locker room. It contains ammunition, grenades, explosives, and energy cells for the individuals who use energy weapons. Along with lots and lots of dust powder and crystals. They were stock so no one would use custom ammunition to give an unfair advantage. Jaune did not use ammo so he was just standing there... awkwardly... as the rest of his team replaces the stock ammo with the ammo that they normally use outside of the tournament.
He's still concerned about Pyrrha advancing to the doubles... considered that Penny's a robot, according to those Atlassian files Ren had copied. Although it didn't say where Penny got her aura from. Someone somehow creating an artificial aura... it's just something ludicrous. Although he did tell Pyrrha to not use her semblance when fighting Penny, no exceptions. No need to cause a scene and all.
When the discussion was being had, Pyrrha was confused why... but than Jaune reminded Pyrrha of Penny's mechanical nature and than she realized why, also Mercury was there during the conversation, but he wasn't sure for how long. So hopefully he didn't pick up about the part with Penny.
Now back to the present. Jaune was sitting down. He browsed on the scroll for the news... okay. It seems the tabloids have gotten a lot of stuff on Pyrrha. 'Potty Mouth Pyrrha', 'Pooring Milk before Cerial? How Scandalous?', 'Pyrrha Nikos Eating Chocolate?', and 'Brushing with Dry Toothpaste? Perfectly fine for Pyrrha Nikos!'. Having a celebrity as a teammate is really on the downside because once she heads out the door, the press is going to go right into her face bombarding her with questions, and with more tabloid headlines.
But than Jaune got up to head to the dorm. He was walking when Weiss greeted him on his way back.
"Hey Jaune. You did great in that fight." Weiss praised.
"Thanks, figured I'd needed the praise given that Pyrrha gets all the attention. She and Nora will be advancing to the doubles anyway, so..." Jaune remarked.
"Don't doubt yourself. You helped your team get this far. And I'll be rooting for your team in the doubles. Like how Yang is rooting for Sun."
"I appreciate it, but I won't be in the doubles fights."
"I know, doesn't mean I can't root for team JNPR."
"Well, thanks for your support."
"No problem. Hey, do you think we can spend some time at the city?"
"Isn't it raining?"
"Should it matter? It'll just be us."
"I don't see why not."
Jaune figured his team could survive without him for one night. He'll just be spending time with Weiss. They won't be causing trouble for like... two hours.
Character Change: Jaune Arc - Ruby Rose
Bullhead, 8:00 PM, Thursday, from Vale to Beacon
Ruby had spent the entire day outside in the rain. She was elated to be outside during the day without the fear of the sun.
Six hours ago
"Ruby, wake up!" Yang said in a cheerful tone.
"Err... Yang. The sun's still up, let me sleep for a few more hours." Ruby complained.
"What if I told you, it started raining?"
"If I look past the curtains and see that yellow ball of death, I will slap you." Ruby complained, then got up.
She opened the curtain to see not the yellow ball of death. But a large quantity of clouds covering the sky, and than rain pouring down across all of Vale. Her face lit up like a lightbulb. Not a star though, she would likely die if that's the case.
"Someone likes the rain." Weiss stated.
"It's the only time I get to go outside during the day without worrying about the sun!"
"You still need your parasol."
"Still... no need to worry about the sun."
"I see Ruby's in a good mood, what's the case?" Blake asked.
"It's raining." Yang answered.
"Oh. And now she wants to go outside when people would normally stay inside?"
"Yep."
"Come on, this is a rare moment for me." Ruby begged.
"Alright, fine. But only for you." Blaks said.
"Yaaaaaay!"
Back to present.
The team spent a couple of hours outside during the rain with Ruby before heading back. Ruby was watching JNPR and SSSN fight from her scroll while strolling through the rain. After awhile she decided to head back, she had spent around five hours in the rain before going to the nearest bullhead to Beacon. She had her rainshade because it was raining so she wasn't completely soaked in water. That's good at the very least, that means she doesn't have to dry her clothes thoroughly.
She was just browsing through her scroll. And the tabloids really went on it on Pyrrha. Like, wow. Anyways, she just swiped through the news and stuff. Because Ruby is not really one whose interested in those things. She mostly uses the internet to look at cute animals and such.
The doubles start tomorrow. She'll be rooting for her friends in the fights ahead. Worst case scenario is that Weiss and Blake would be fighting Pyrrha or Penny. But who knows? They might be facing eachother.
Penny's team: CPNT (pronounced Sapient) is pretty lackluster in fighting, save for Penny herself. Given that their leader, Ciel Soliel doesn't even do anything. Then there's Neu Gai and Tim Can. Those two are incredibly dull. Given one, they mostly wear a basic blue polo T-shirt (both of them), and white khaki pants, along with simple blue loafer shoes. The only difference is the color of their belts. Neu Gai wears a fully black belt with a gold buckle, and Tim Can wears a grey belt with a silver buckle. They even use a standard-issue assault rifle, both of them. Well... unlike Ciel, at least those two at least do something... even if it is just lackluster. As if they're cannon fodder.
But it's still nice to root for Penny fighting in the tournament.
It was just nice, being outside during daytime without worrying about the sun. Even with her parasol, there's still the worry that the winds would be too strong for it to maintain.
After getting off the bullhead. She decided to head back to the dorm.
Beacon Academy, 9:00 PM, Thursday, RWBY Dormitory
Ruby and Blake were watching a movie together. Yang was spending time with Sun for the night. She's not sure where Weiss went. But she texted that she's hanging out with her boyfriend... funny thing is that she was rejecting him all first semester so it's surprising to all they're dating now. Meanwhile the rest of JNPR is out somewhere. Ruby and Blake were cuddling whilst sitting on the couch, watching a movie. It was one of the older movies. But it was still fun to watch.
It's apparently a film adaptation to a book that Blake likes reading, so she was commenting throughout the film, but Ruby didn't care, she just spent time with her girlfriend. After the movie was over. Blake had gone to bed. And Ruby stayed up. Yang had gone home on time to prepare to go to bed. Although Weiss did show up slightly late, but Ruby's glad she wasn't Yang late and showed up drunk out of her mind, she did get herself on the top bunk of the bed.
And than Ruby did her tune-ups and Ruby-time until 5:00 AM, where she would fall asleep, spooning Blake. Ruby was the big spoon. Blake being the little spoon made sense because she has to get up first. Although Blake tends to tumble in her sleep. But she moved Blake back in the little spoon when Ruby goes to sleep.
Character Change: Ruby Rose - Mercury Black
Amity Colosseum, 12:00 PM, Friday, Amity Arena
These new legs are a step up from the ones Cinder got her a long time ago, and especially the one given by the silver-eyed bloodsucker. Since the general put his scroll onto Vale's network, the virus now affects anything he can control, including the arena randomizers. Cinder has meddled with them to set to an array of matchups. She picked especially easy opponents for the invincible girl and Penny Polledenia, who's apparently a machine. Mercury was tasked to fight in the doubles, and than wait for Arthur to send over the device that Cinder requested, it's related to Penny somewhat. Whatever the boss is planning, it's going to cause a huge scene.
Back on track. He gave his boots a test drive against one of the poor combatants fighting from the second-rate schools. And they were a success.
Right now, the randomizer had pinned them against Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi. They're second year students. From what is know, their semblances are either passive or unused. Team CVFY was always known to be bit more secretive with their abilities. But Mercury won't break a sweat fighting them, given his new legs. But let's see if they stand a chance.
[Eh, insert some interlude music here]
"Welcome to the first round in the doubles tournament!" Port announced.
"That's correct. The doubles have begun here. The randomizers have already pinned up Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi of team CVFY vs Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai of team CMSN." Oobleck announced.
"Team CVFY is not as flashy as the rest of the teams you've seen there. But they are quite versatile. It's not surprising they picked the melee and ranged specialists to feature them in the doubles."
"Quite precisely, since they cancel out each other's weaknesses."
"And on the other hand, Emerald is quite resourceful on her own. Meanwhile Mercury is quite ruthless!"
"I've lost count to how many times he ALMOST broke the rules. And Emerald is quite good at surprising her foes. It's not surprising that CMSN picked Emerald for her brain and Mercury for his brawn!"
"Hey!" Mercury retorted.
"He's right, you know!" Neptune heckled.
"Neptune, can you go one day without heckling a tournament match?"
"If it annoys you that much, then no."
"Mercury, don't encourage him." Emerald commented.
"And that's all the we have to say, so let's get ready to for the fight!" Port commented, with most of it being over-shadowed it by Neptune's heckling.
Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai vs Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi
The biomes are now being randomized... and is being loaded accordingly.
"Let's see here wheat farm, forest, and jungle on one half. Volcano, Thunderous mountains, and Full-on ice islands! Hope they know how to swim in cold water." Port announced.
"Quite indeed, it appears this matchup is filled with a diverse array of biomes, four out of six of them being dangerous." Oobleck announced.
"It seems chance is on Mercury and Emerald's side, given that their side has the two safe biomes."
"Quite indeed. But the matchup won't start itself."
"In that case, no need to slow down the fight."
"That's a nice outfit, I figured someone like you would dress more drab." Coco taunted Emerald.
"Too bad it's going to be covered in your blood." Emerald taunted, bringing out Thief's Respite.
"Oh, I like you." Coco said, readying her minigun.
"Apologies about Coco, she means well." Yatsuhashi apologized.
"I came here to fight, not talk." Mercury retorted, stretching his prosthetic legs.
"So be it." Yatsu said in a somber tone, drawing his sword.
3...
2...
1...
FIGHT!
Soon after the fight began Mercury and Emerald retreated to the field, and quickly split up, Emerald to the forest, and Mercury to the jungle. while Coco was mowing down the field. She was dazed to find that no one was in the field. Given that she's required to use stock bullets... that means either she's cheating or that she somehow is amplifying the bullets. Either-way... let's see if she studied.
Although he's not using the full arsenal of his new legs, he still prefers to use two of the abilities featured with them. An enhanced version of his wind-bolts, and a zero-risked variation of lightning kick that the bloodsucker gave him.
He used one of the wind-bolts to launch himself to the girl with the minigun, followed by a heavy lightning kick. The new legs can fit a lot more dust so he can use more special attacks. Yatsuhashi quickly countered the lightning kick with his sword, and than punched Mercury in the face.
"The First hit had landed, the second one not so much." Port announced.
Mercury quickly changed his target to the large sword-wielder and went from slow strong attacks to quick fast ones, moreso his style. He started by jumping on Yatsu and went with a flurry of kicks and than did a roundhouse kick, knocking him to the geysers. Coco interviened and went and fired a round of bullets at Mercury, it hit him, but she was quickly dragged to the forest.
"COCO!" Yatsu yelled in vain. She's in Emerald's hands now.
"I was wondering where Emerald went." Port announced.
"Going for the discreet approach. Mercury was the diversion; now poor Coco is alone in the forest." Oobleck announced.
"Coco is a lot better fighter. She's managed to rip a Goliath in half with just 40 bullets of that gun of her. And she fires a minigun so that isn't a lot of ammo."
"But I doubt Emerald is planning a fair fight."
"Fair point there, Bart."
Those two old farts never shut up? Anyways, He has a giant swordsman to pummel. He goes on with his brief and quick kicks to keep him from making a stike, and than follows by a lightning enhanced lightning kick, knocking him back to the mountain biome. Mercury than swifts up an array of wind bolts, forming a hurricane and than have them all fired at Yatsu, launching him in the air. He than finishes up with a wind-bolt launch and than a lightning knockback kick, knocking him out of the arena and down to 5% aura. A buzzing noise can be heard.
"Yatsu! No!" Velvet yelled.
"Ouch, that's just brutal. Like not even a joke there." Neptune heckled.
"That's a double whammy! Aura and knockout, Yatuhashi Daichi is unable to continue." Port announced.
And than another buzzing noise can be heard, looks like Emerald pulled a number on Coco.
"And immediatley after that, Coco Adel has been eliminated." Oobleck announced.
"Bart, I am disappointed in the length of this fight." Port announced.
"Fast or long, team Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai sheered through by isolating their comrades and keeping making a move."
"The winner is team Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai."
Mercury quickly left the arena as the announcement as been called. Emerald followed suit. Time to get the debriefing for the singles.
Amity Colosseum, 12:08 PM, Friday, Locker Rooms
Cinder had just walked into the room, whilst Emerald and Mercury were pretending to switch their ammo. They never swapped their ammo, nor did they intend to. She's likely here to start the debriefing.
"Like expected, you've won. The next match won't be until an hour. And we all know the matchup is." Cinder stated.
"So... what's the plan?" Mercury asked.
"You? Oh, you're going to plant the device for Penny."
"What? Why?"
"You're a bit too efficient. And brutal, any incident involving you would have less neagivty than the plan intends, so Emerald will be fighting in the singles."
"You know I can totally break the knee-caps of one of those girls."
"And they expect you to do that, so it's not a surprise. If Emerald on the other hand, does it..."
"I see. How exactly does it work?"
"It latches on like a magnet, and it's small. The rest will be done at her solo fight."
"I see..."
Afterwards, Cinder handed him the device, where as Cinder and Emerald were leaving the colosseum. Mercury stayed in the colosseum until either Penny shows up or the colosseum closes for the day.
Character Change: Mercury Black - Ruby Rose
Beacon Academy, 12:55 PM (Daylight warning), Friday, RWBY Dormitory
Ruby was staying up to watch the doubles from the TV in the living room. The rest of her team is at the colosseum though. So, it's just her by herself. She would go herself, but colosseum rules, no carry-in-items other than combatant weapons.
The next matchup is approaching. Port and Oobleck are on the Television screen.
"Welcome back to the Vytal tournament. If you're watching now, you're just about in time for the randomization." Port announced.
The team boards are being spun around... and until they land on her team and another one.
"Looks like we'll be seeing Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna of Team RWBY face off against Flynt Coal and Kobalt Waters of team FNKI. Quite an interesting fight, and unexpected choice for the doubles for both of them. This fight will be a good one." Port announced.
Author's Footnote: And I'll end it here. A bit short compared to the last two, mostly because I'll be going on a 1-month Hiatus. I'll be back in May, don't worry. In the meantime, anything that you think needs some cleaning up, you can tell me. If everything is good, just tell me. I don't expect a lot of reviews here, so I won't ask any. And no post-chapter interviews here because Like I said, I need to wrap things up quick. See ya in May!