Okay so Update from your friendly neighborhood author:

I said I'd explain what happened, and usually, people just give basic details but, I think this whole incident was worth typing about. It's the type of situation that only happens to me, and I've never met another person who's probably as cursed as I am.

Basically, I woke up yesterday at like 8 am and I'm still drinking my coffee when my mom breaks in like "Go Help your uncle, there's an emergency."

So, I'm like half-awake in a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and my goddamn rubber slippers, hopping into my dad's pick-up with my uncle, cuz word is my other uncle, and my grandfather are lost in the woods, pinned down by bees.

Yeah, I live in a pretty rural countryside, lots of forest and vegetation, grass grows taller than me and I'm like 5ft 10, anyway, so we drive the pick-up to the point where the dirt road ends and the car can't go anymore, so I'm hiking it on my own while the others try to get the car over this ditch. It's like 9 am, I'm literally in the wilderness in my sleeping clothes and slippers in bushes taller than me, trying to find my uncle and grandfather.

Eventually, we manage to get the car across and get cell-phone reception to them, my uncle barely utters like 2 words to us over the phone cuz his body is going numb from the bee stings. When we finally find them, my uncle is face down in the field curled in a ball, man isn't moving, my grandfather isn't anywhere to be found, there's like 700 bees around him.

Rescue ops time, we manage to carry him to the car but the bees attack me and I lose my glasses while fighting off the swarm. We find my grandfather at the bottom of the hill in a ditch, hiding in some bushes, the man can't talk or move cuz of the bee stings. It was actually scary as hell cuz the old man is screaming for us to leave him and get out cuz the swarm of bees was still attacking us, the entire hive was on a blood hunt. I can't see anything cuz I'm basically blind without my glasses and I have to carry my grandfather out of the ditch and into the pick-up, course I lose my slippers in that part cuz I tripped cuz I was blind.

Anyway, fast forward, my grandfather and uncle ended up in the hospital, my uncle got discharged today, he'll be okay, but my grandfather took somewhere close to forty stings, at least that's what the medics said, and he's barely conscious in critical condition. He's potentially suffering memory loss and they're not sure he'll make it, but his condition is slightly improving, if however small.

I get out with like one sting, several cuts and bruises, there's a stick or something lodged in my right foot, haven't managed to get it out yet cuz it's like really small and I can't see to get it out. I swear my life is a tv show, whoever writes the script is really mean.

On a brighter note, I'm getting new glasses tomorrow, just in time because they actually have my prescription in stock, so I don't have to wait like 2 weeks, which is great cuz the country goes lockdown from COVID-19 as of Sunday.


Chapter 35: That's One Way to Break a Leg


There was tension in the air, around them, a hidden lining of danger that lurked just out of reach of Team ASHNRWBY. This day marked the beginning of the singles match. The final round of the Vytal Tournament, and a key time period in the plans of both Nova and his team at Beacon, and their enemies from across Remnant.

Both parties would be looking to make their move during this time, whether it be during their own fights, or sabotaging the fights of someone else. Since the elimination of Thorian, Rogue and the members of team BLDE, there has been no enemy activity, nor have the individuals themselves been seen since. Cameras have picked up hide nor hair of them and there haven't been any suspicious flights out, or in.

One could only assume they were well hidden in Vale itself or lurking about the colosseum, just out of view, every blindspot, every dark corner, Blake, Nova and Luna's heightened senses were prickling like wildfire, it was enough to drive anyone mad.

Nova awoke that morning and headed down to the fairgrounds with the rest of his team for some special good luck breakfast… it was basically just noodle bowls again, but they'd be damned if it wasn't the best food on campus.

"It's oddly quiet around here…" Nitro pointed out as they stepped into the fairgrounds. The shops were set up like normal, the only change being the severe lack of people.

"Well it is pretty early, most people are just gearing up to watch the fights and heading directly to the stadium." Weiss surmised, looking around for signs of people.

"Or it could be that the grounds aren't open to the public yet?" Blake said pointing at a sign that clearly said 'Open at 8 a.m'.

It was 7:45.

Everyone deadpanned, "Why are we even here this early?" Yang groaned, rubbing her eyes. She had no idea what order the fights were in so she needed to be ready at the first call, but it still didn't make waking up before noon any easier.

"Because 'Miss I sleep all day'. If you don't get a proper start, you'll screw up your match!" Weiss pinched the blonde. This jolted her awake. "OW!"

Hex pressed her forehead against Yang's back, "Great, now that you're awake… please carry me."

Yang smiled, "If I'm awake then so are you. C'mon, I'm sure some coffee will wake you up." She turned around and ruffled Hex's hair. The purplette just groaned in compliance.

Nova looked on amused, "I could do with some coffee too… what about you, love?" he turned to Ruby.

Before she could answer, Nova, Luna and Blake's ears all twitched simultaneously, there was a subtle drumming, of what sounded like a stampede of horses, coming their way. "What's that noise…." Luna said causing them all to turn around.

A large mass hazy in the distance, making its way toward them at breakneck speeds, the closer it got, the more they realized that it wasn't a stampede of horses, but rather, a rampaging mob of people. They all paled at the massive horde.

"Can anyone explain why there's a massive conglomeration of people swarming toward us?" Nitro asked looking concerned.

"No… Luna, did you steal anything?" Hex asked her young friend.

"Nope, not that I can think of…" her words barely had a chance to leave her mouth when the unsuspecting party was collapsed upon by the congregation, leaving them in a disorienting pile on the floor, dust clouds were the only evidence the crowd had even been there.

" *Cough cough* Everyone alright? What the fuck was all that about?" Yang asked looking around as the dust cleared.

"We're okay…" Weiss responded, dusting herself off. "Honestly I thought they were coming to interview a Schnee."

"Weiss not everything is about you…" Blake responded annoyed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Uhh… guys?" Ruby said garnering their attention.

"What?" they all simultaneously asked.

"Where's Nova?"

"Fuck."


-Meanwhile with Nova-

"AH PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWNNN!" Nova yelled amidst the storming voices of the crowd.

The poor dragon was carried for what seemed to be miles before he was let down. The mob of people swarming him now surrounded him.

"Finally, yeesh. What the hell is wrong with you people?" Nova asked dusting himself off. He glanced around the silent mob. What he thought was a mass congregation of tourists and fair attendees was actually a mass of reporters… and random people?

They closed in on him wordlessly as he instinctively backed up until his back was flat against the cold concrete wall of a shop. He started getting nervous now, as he'd realized he was cornered against a shop wall. Masses of people around him at all sides, at all angles, like hunters finally cornering their prey.

"Um… guys? Can I get back to my friends, please?" He asked nervously.

"Prince Nova Flareheart. We'd like an exclusive interview." One of the reporters said, a woman clad in a brown trench coat and glasses.

"Interview? What is this?"

"Mr. Flareheart, now that you've let the world know of your existence, what do you plan on doing from here?" Another reporter shoved a microphone in his face.

"Other than your sister, are there any other members of your family here in Vale?" Another asked.

"Guys please…."

"Mr. Flareheart, is it true that you've come to overthrow the White Fang?"

"Wait what kind of questions are these?"

"Nova Flareheart, on behalf of the people. Are you single?" With that question, the majority of the crowd behind him erupted in a cheer of murmurs and questions.

Nova stood there baffled and confused, a hoard of Grimm, easy. An army of soldiers? No problem.

A mob of reporters and apparently fans, a different story.

"What's your blood type?"

"What type of girls are you into?"

"Or Guys?"

"What's your political stance?"

Nova had enough.

"Guys, please! I'd be happy to answer all of your questions…" He began looking around for an escape. "But I think my sister Luna would be more inclined to answer! Look there she is now!" he pointed behind them, and like the fools they were, all turned around.

"I don't see anyone, are you sure she's…" The coated reporter asked only to find him running down the streets at blinding speeds.

"AND FYI! I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!" Nova yelled as he made a mad dash away from them.

"AFTER HIM!" The woman yelled as the mob tore the pavement to shreds on their rampage toward the unfortunate dragon.


Nova had been running for some time now, and still, the mob refused to let up as if they drew their energy from curiosity and harassment. "Holy shit these guys are persistent…" he muttered to himself as he ducked and dodged over various trashcans to try and stall their progress… to little avail.

"Psst! Over here!" A familiar voice called out from the sidelines. Nova turned his head to see Pyrrha beckoning him from an alleyway. Mustering his incredible speed, he sprinted forward then made a sharp right turn into the alley, so quickly the mob didn't have time to react so they just barrelled past while he stood heaving his lungs out in the comfort of the alley's hideaway.

"Holy shit thank you…." Nova said, gasping for air as he leaned against the cool concrete wall. "What are you even doing here?" He asked turning to Pyrrha, only to find she wasn't alone. The rest of JNPR was there as well.

"We were out getting breakfast when we saw you being chased by the living incarnation of an undead army. What's up with that anyway?" Jaune asked looking concerned for his friend.

Nova placed his hands on his knees to steady himself. "Reporters and fans, they want interviews… or to date me… or worse…" Nova shuddered. He'd seen the wild look in some of their eyes, and he feared for his chastity.

Pyrrha giggled, "Boy do I know how that feels." she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Ugh, how do you deal with fame Pyrrha?"

"It just goes away after some time, you just gotta let the hype die down." She responded.

"Yeah but how long will that take? I'm starving now." The dragon complained, his stomach rumbled in response.

"Well, we do have some leftover chicken sandwiches…" Nora held up a paper bag. Nova took one whiff of the stuff and turned slightly green.

"No thanks… I'm good… besides, Ruby wouldn't let me here the end of it if I ate breakfast without her today." Nova smiled thinking about her. They promised to have a team breakfast to wish them all luck in their matches today.

"Well with the way things are out there. I'd suggest a disguise before you step out into public view," Ren mused looking him over, "Your appearance is rather... distinctive..."

"I don't have any spare clothes… fuck…" Nova said rummaging through his back pocket for storage cubes. He usually kept a few on him in case he needed a quick change but he'd left his wig and mask at home since the reveal, figured he'd never need them again.

"I picked up some clothes on our way out of town… but it's all girl clothes…" Pyrrha said holding up a bag.

Nova had an idea spark in his brain, "Pyrrha, I hope you don't mind if I ask but… what are your sizes?"

Pyrrha and Jaune both turned red, "W-W-What are you even asking?!" she was flabbergasted.

Nova pinched the bridge of his nose, "Not like that. And no I'm not hitting on your girl blondie." He said eyeing Jaune's angry expression. He'd never pegged the blonde to be the possessive type.

"Then why do you need to know?" Pyrrha asked calming down.

"Just… trust me? I think I have an idea for how to avoid them…"

"Well… if you're sure…" Pyrrha leaned down and whispered into Nova's ear.

Jaune looked rather jealous but it couldn't be helped.

"OH! That's actually not that far off, you're a bit taller but I have a belt it'll make do…"

"Are you gonna do what I think you're gonna do?" Nora asked with excitement gleaming in her eyes.

Nova shot her an exasperated look, "Not exactly… Um… promise you won't say a word about this to anyone?"

"A word about what?" Jaune asked confused.

"Just, promise me." The dragon grimaced.

"Our lips are sealed. Now, what are you going to…" Pyrrha's words faltered when she saw Nova press a button on his armlet and a fiery orange light enveloped him like his aura. Scales began appearing over him in waves until, before them stood a slightly shorter, and a rather beautiful young woman, standing in the place of Nova, with his same eyes, hair, and horns.

Jaune and Pyrrha's brain shut down while Ren maintained his stoic look, with the exception of his eye twitching. Nora, on the other hand, had her jaw open.

"WHAT?!" Was the simultaneous response.

Nova blushed in embarrassment, "Yeah yeah, get it out now…"

"You're… you're…" Jaune stuttered.

"Yes, I'm actually Alexandra. No, I am not Nova's cousin, I really am Nova himself… err well I guess I'm a girl right now…"

"Are they real?" Nora asked pointing at Nova's boobs. The dragon deadpanned.

"Yes Nora, they are in fact real…"

"Oh… my … god…" was all Pyrrha could utter out.

"How did this happen?" Ren asked in utter disbelief.

Nova sighed, "Long story short, an accident happened, my semblance happened, now I'm both a girl and a boy. Can we move past this now?"

"WAIT DOES THIS MEAN THAT…." Nora looked excited. Nova… was not.

"Please don't…" was all he could say before he was glomped by the Valkyrie. "Can't… breathe… Ren… assistance…."

Ren calmly pried the excitable Nora off the poor dragon girl.

"In hindsight, I should've seen this coming," Nova said getting up off the floor, his pants drooping from the loose clothes, his shirt sagging downward and his breasts bouncing a little as he shook the dust off.

Jaune was visibly getting a nosebleed. "Pyrrha please wipe your boyfriend's nose off." Nova sighed. "And can I borrow those clothes now?"

The redhead nodded and handed the bag over, while simultaneously wiping Jaune's nose blood.

"Okay now… can you all turn around for a second while I get changed?"

"You're going to get dressed in a dirty alleyway? Isn't that… unsanitary?" the redhead asked concerned.

Nova waved his hand dismissively, "Meh, grew up on the streets, these alleys are the cleanest I've ever seen in my life."

Pyrrha blinked, "What does that…" but the dragon girl was already beginning to unbutton causing her to turn red and whip her head away.


After a few quick minutes and some annoyed high pitched grunts and complaints, Nova finally emerged from behind a dumpster. He was wearing a bright red long sleeve top and a gold jacket accompanied by a matching black and gold skirt that went up to his mid-thigh. A shiny black and silver belt went around his waist to keep the skirt and shirt in place since Pyrrha was a bit taller than him, and lastly, a black beret, like the type Coco wears, to cover his horns.

"What're you staring at? Do I look that weird in Pyrrha's colours?" He asked looking over himself.

"Why the hell are you so pretty?!" Pyrrha asked in disbelief catching everyone off guard. "Ahem my apologies, this is just so… strange to me."

"No, Pyrrha's right. You look amazing!" Nora said placing her chin between her index and thumb and nodding.

"T-Thanks…" Nova said blushing in embarrassment.

Jaune and Ren observed the response with a bit of pink dusting both of their cheeks, earning a pinch from Pyrrha and Nora respectively.

"Can we just go already? I wanna find my team before the matches start…"


"So…." Nora started trying to break the awkward silence. It was one thing to see Nova in the dark alley way, it was another to see him outside with his white hair shining in the morning sun.

"So?"

"How does it feel to be a girl?" Nora asked curious. "Coming from a guy who's become a girl that is."

Nova placed his finger on his chin, "Well, it was a little scary at first. You wake up one morning and your dick is gone and you're left standing there wondering what's next."

The term roused Jaune out of his stare at the hypnotic sway of Nova's hips. "Wait so it's actually not there?"

Nova quirked his brow, "You wanna check?"

Jaune turned red, "I…. I'll take your word for it." Nova just smirked at the reign Pyrrha had on the blonde.

"So that week you were Alexandra…" Pyrrha left it hanging.

"Yeah that was the week I transformed, I was waiting on my mom to work on the cure. She invented the nanomachines that turned me into a girl in the first place so, it was only fair she be the one to turn me back."

"Nanomachines?" They all asked simultaneously.

Nova sighed, "Another long story, one you don't need to concern yourselves with… it's… of the sensitive type of information. The type you'd want to keep locked in a vault under the school." Nova said using the terms in such a way it clued Pyrrha in as to what he meant.

It dawned on her, "Oh, I see. I'll respect your privacy then. On another note, how do you change?"

Nova raised his left hand to show the black and red armlet, "This thing. It controls the nanomachines in my body and allows me to transition between either male or female. The problem is without it, my body just reverts back to female so I need this to stay… me."

"I have so many questions…" Ren trailed off.

"All of which I highly doubt I can answer," Nova responded.

"So… you voluntarily wear skirts?" Jaune asked.

"Jaune, skirts are the most liberating piece of clothing a girl can wear. It provides a wide range of movements while bolstering airflow and style." The dragon said placing his hands on his hips.

"RIGHT?! Combat skirt sisters!" Nora high fived the dragon.


It wasn't long before they managed to make it to the fairgrounds. Nova's aura was still regenerating so he'd be a while before he could change back into a guy. He figured he might as well just stay in this form the rest of the day, it'd get the mob off his back at least.

The approached the noodle shop to see the members of ASHNRWBY sitting around enjoying a bowl of noodles, fortunately they'd just started eating.

"GUYS!" Nova waved his hand gaining their attention. The moment Ruby spotted him she semblance over in a rush of petals, tackling him in a tight hug.

"Good to see you too, love," he said hugging her. Ruby just reached up and kissed him lightly, much to the surprise of JNPR at just how comfortable the red leader was with the whole situation.

"Where did you go? We were so worried…" Ruby placed a hand on his cheek, "And look at you, you're a girl. What happened?"

Nova sighed, "Reporters and fans, apparently I'm very famous now and there's a bloodthirsty following… Thankfully Pyrrha and the others helped me out."

"He's borrowing her clothes~" Nora said with a devilish smirk.

They all turned wide-eyed, "Wait so you let them know?" Weiss asked curiously.

"Well I didn't really have a choice in the matter now did I?" Nova placed his hands on his hips.

"Well, I for one am glad for the change. You look pretty good in that get-up." Yang said gesturing to his outfit.

"Pyrrha does have good taste, though I'm not really sure gold is my colour."

"You're making it work though," Luna said amused.

Nova smirked, "I think I can make any outfit work."

Ruby pinched Nova's cheek, "Look who's being smug." She kissed him again.

"So, Ruby, you're okay with you know…" Jaune said referring to the fact that her boyfriend was also a girlfriend.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She asked in return, genuinely confused.

"Well you know because…" he continued but Pyrrha stopped him.

"You must really love him…. Don't you?" Pyrrha said. It wasn't a question, more like a statement.

The red leader nodded vigorously, "Yup! More than anything!" she squeezed him harder and Nova just turned crimson.

"C-Can I just go eat already? I'm starving." He said in embarrassment much to everyone else's amusement.


-Amity Arena-

"And now for our next match in the third round of the Vytal Festival. As done previously, opponents will be randomly selected from our roster of available candidates." Port said over the system as the screen spun rapidly though a selection of fighters.

"Looks like our combatants are chosen, we have Yang Xiaolong versus…" the screen had momentarily stopped on a student they'd never seen before, that was until it suddenly shifted again, "Minor technical difficulties, but it seems our candidate is Mercury Black!"

Yang readied herself from her perch in the competitors' seating, next to the rest of team ASHNRWBY, Nova was still a girl, as to avoid attention.

"Yang wait!" Hex said putting an arm on her girlfriend, stopping her from leaving.

The blonde was confused, "What's up babe?"

"Don't you think a technical error on this particular person seems a little odd…?" Hex said now eyeing the scoreboards.

"What do you mean?"

"She means that, given our suspicions on Emerald's team, the fact that there's an inside man on the administration with the ability to rig contest information, it's more than likely this wasn't a randomly selected battle…" Nova said folding one arm across his stomach and using the other to twirl a strand of his hair. An odd habit he'd picked up in his female body.

"I can't just back out of the tournament…"

"I'm not saying you should, I'm saying just keep an eye out. We don't know what they're planning."

"Then I guess my only option is to beat his ass right?" The blonde fist pumped and walked off.

"Please be careful…" Hex muttered as she watched the brawler strut off onto the arena.

"Break a leg sis!" Ruby cheered, trying to be optimistic.

A feminine voice beside them chuckled, "Yes, I'm certain she will put up a good fight for my teammate."

They all turned to see a beautiful woman in a brown top that looked straight out of a western and jeans. She had long flowing black hair wrapped around to the front of her neck and amber eyes.

"Who're you?" Weiss asked, eyeing her carefully.

"Sorry, my apologies, I'm Cinder Fall, Emerald's team leader. She's told me so much about you," Cinder said smiling.

Nova was now on edge, "Yes, well, our firecracker is going to blow him outta the arena," he responded trying to sound competitive instead of uneasy.

"Strong words from such a beautiful young lady, I don't believe I've seen you around~" Cinder said in what could be interpreted as flirtatious.

"This is Alexandra, she's one of my friends…" Ruby said rather possessively, gripping onto Nova's arms.

"Hmm…. Maybe a bit more than friends~?" Cinder mused.

Ruby didn't like that tone of voice, that woman was trying too hard to sound charismatic. The red leader didn't know why but every bone in her body was telling her this woman was dangerous.

"Looks like the match is starting…" Nova said drawing their attention in an attempt to diffuse the rising altercation before it could start.

The arena had now become a raised platform, and unlike all previous rounds, there were no special environments. Just two fighters in the ring. Yang and Mercury stared down each other, inching closer to take up the standard tournament one on one greeting. The atmosphere seemed normal, the electric excitement running through the crowd, the lightness of competition, but Nova felt it. Something was going to happen... he just didn't know what and from where.


"FIGHT!"

Yang and Mercury met each other in a single rush of blows, fist met foot in a clash of strength, with Mercury ricocheting backward from the trade. Fighters held almost nothing back as Mercury dashed back in with blinding speeds, ducking low to avoid Yang's punches then flipping to kick upward.

Yang easily dodged by jumping over him and attacking again, the kickboxer sidestepped and tried to grab hold of her arms with his legs but she saw it coming and dashed back, each punch she threw fired off blasts from Ember Celia, forcing Mercury to stay on edge both at distance and at close quarters.

The arena was small and favoured the close-range exchange that these two fighters were best suited for. It was, in all essence, a battle of close-quarters combat, a high energy fight with no room to breathe or stall for time.

Yang managed to catch Mercury off guard in a dazzling combo of punches that sent him sprawling out of the ring. The grey-haired boy, on the other hand, managed to catch himself just in time, using his legs to propel the air below him sending him flying upward.

"What was that?" Blake asked observing the move Mercury just pulled off. It looked like he was jumping on air.

"I think he has a ranged weapon in his boots maybe?" Ruby opted.

"Hmm… I think it might be his semblance…" Luna said after moments of quiet observation.

"How'd you figure that?" asked Weiss.

"If it was a weapon then his boots would have to be bulkier, no weapon exists that can create that amount of force and still be that small. You'd need at least a high pressurized canister of air."

"And a rather large one at that." Nitro mused. He was well versed in the art, the only thing that came similar to what Mercury had just done was his own jet thrusters, even those were state of the art Zephyr technology, that only he and Hex had access to.

Back at the fight, Mercury was now on the offensive, rapidly kicking at Yang with a flurry of high kicks aimed at her head. She blocked all of them but they were coming out so fast that it was practically all she could do.

Yang tried to gain the upper hand by firing off Ember Celia at close range but Mercury dodged backward and shot a blast of air at her.

"Woah…" Yang said disoriented, up until this point she'd only seen him as a melee fighter, she had no idea he had ranged capabilities.

Mercury just smirked and began firing off air blasts in all directions until the hemisphere around the arena was covered in a circling cage of air visible air blasts.

While Yang was distracted Mercury dived in, landing a solid kick on her stomach and followed up with a swift rotated kick sending her flying upward. In the instant she hit peak altitude, he jumped up and slammed her hard sending her crashing into the arena floor in a crater. The combo didn't stop there as the moment Mercury landed beside her, the swirling mass of air shots had converged on a central point and came barrelling down onto the defenceless blonde in a grand explosion of damage.

"Looks like my teammate has taken victory…" Cinder said smiling to them.

"Hmph don't be so sure…" Hex shot her a devilish smirk

Cinder didn't respond as at that moment the arena erupted with the glowing hair and red eyes of one angry blonde.

"Oh fu-" Was all Mercury had time to say as Yang turned on him with full fury, unleashing her own damage back at him tenfold. The sheer power behind her strikes was overpowering him easily and it wasn't long before his defenses broke and he fell to the ground.

"And with that, Yang Xiaolong moves on to her next battle! What a way to kick off the finals!" Port announced.

"YEAH, YOU DID IT, SIS!" Ruby cheered as Yang stood proudly. It was at that moment however, something completely unexpected happened.

In that instant Yang turned on the downed Mercury and punched him hard in the leg, causing his knee to bend backward and eliciting incredible cries of pain.

Everyone on team ASHNRWBY stood mortified at the scene before him. They saw Yang standing looking confused and scared as the crowd around her booed viscously.

"MY WORD! Cut the cameras!" Port said as they cut the feed. No one had seen such a display of brutality before, all the audience members were exuding with negative energy at the scene they'd just observed.

Nova and Luna flinched, they felt it, a sudden, severe change in the world's natural flow. Never had such a mass of negative energy been exuded by one place in such a long time… if this didn't get under control fast, there would be hundreds... if not thousands of Grimm… all heading for one place…


-On the opposite side of the arena, a few minutes earlier-

"Is that one of ASHN's friends?" Krome asked trying to adjust himself in the seat next to his friend.

"From what I've heard they're actually part of the same team officially, though they're split in two for the tournament…" Ragnar responded as he observed the fight take place.

Krome tilted his head confused, "Huh?"

"Together they're called team ASHNRWBY, with two leaders, Nova Alexandrite Flareheart and Ruby Rose. Take a wild guess as to who my gut tells me is wolf doctor lady's son."

"Nova?"

"Correcto-mundo. He doesn't seem to be a wolf so I'm assuming his dad is a dragon or whatever they claim to be." Ragnar mused eyeing the arena, he had a bad feeling prickling on his neck.

"Oh yeah, Prince or whatever, and his sister Luna, a princess… go figure we fought royalty." Krome mused.

Ragnar didn't respond as he was now on high alert, his eyes glowing purple and blue. Krome saw it and went on alert as well.

"What's up?" the macaw Faunus asked.

It was at that moment that Yang won the match, standing proudly.

"Something's wrong, my semblance is picking up something off about the stage…"

It was at that moment he saw Yang punch a defenceless Mercury, but, to his eyes, things played out differently. There was a distinct haze around Yang, like a translucent phenomenon, like a mirage effect.

Krome gasped as the blonde bent Mercury's knee inward, "No way…"

"Calm yourself bird brain, I think there's more to it… I picked up on something rather… interesting just then…."

"Your semblance?"

"Yeah, I see it, there was some sort of optical illusion around Yang, I think she wasn't seeing clearly…"

"Think it has anything to do with our… mutual friends?" Krome asked referring to their traitorous ex-teammates.

Ragnar nodded, his gaze still fixed on the stage, "Definitely, I'll take this information to them, explain how my semblance works, we might be able to figure something out… if what that lady said was right, then they're also on the alert for stuff like this…"


-White Fang Headquarters Vacuo-

Onyx sat meditating in the training hall, he concentrated on the world around him, feeling the very forces of nature swirling, like invisible rivers of energy, bending to his will. The black crystal hung loosely around his neck began to glow, his entire body exuding intense levels of power, to the point where his own miasma like aura began crushing the very room itself

At that moment the automatic door opened. Onyx's concentration was broken and his eye twitched, "Who dares interrupt me at this moment."

It was Adam, "Master Onyx, I just received word from our team at Beacon, Cinder Fall has enacted phase one of the plan."

Onyx raised an eyebrow, his eyes themselves still closed, "Has she now? Well…" he suddenly stopped talking.

"Master?"

Onyx began to chuckle, "It seems she has indeed… and quite effectively at that…"

"What do you mean master?"

"I guess you wouldn't feel it now that you are no longer wielder of the Lunar Fragment, but I can feel it… oh yes indeed…" Onyx rose to his feet, a mass of black force that looked like stars in the night sky began swirling around his palm, "The negative energy… Cinder Fall has set off a spark that will escalate into a wildfire, to feel such tremendous negative energy this far away from Vale… RAAAHAHAHAAA!"

Adam flinched as the more excited Onyx became the more power he exuded, tendrils of dark aura whipping around, threatening to hit him.

"Adam, tell Torchwick down at the main facility to get off his ass, we make our move now…"

Adam bowed, "Yes, High Commander." With that, he promptly left.

"Nova Flareheart… I believe it's about high time we meet… face to face…" Onyx said darkly as he toyed with the mass of black energy as if it were a ball.


Chapter was a bit short but, as of losing my glasses, I can't really see my own computer screen very well. Also since we're nearing the end of Volume 3, I want switch the rating of the fic from T to M. Not because I'm going to be writing any lemons, unless I actually get requests for that, but because the story from that point on is going to get pretty dark, some people may die and there are going to be some graphic scenes.

So let me know what you think about that change, do we stick with the type of stuff I do now, or do I actually start getting dark, cuz either way I don't mind, just if I'm allowed the free reign of darker themes then the story might get a little more intense. Unless you think gore and that type of stuff isn't worth setting the rating to M.