A few days later, Cinder was suiting up in her combat gear she planned to wear for the Tournament, which consisted of gray pants and boots, a beige leather sleeveless jacket with light-beige details, brown gloves, a sarashi tied around her chest and another around her hips, and a pauldron on her left shoulder. She also wore a belt around her waist which had multiple brown pouches attached to it. Her fingernails were painted with tan nail polish.

When she was ready, she walked to the amphitheater with her swords and arrows ready. She took on Team CRDL on her own, occasionally using her swords not only as a bow but as a dual blade as well. The fight ended with Cinder being the victor.

"That's the match." Glynda said. "Excellent, Miss Fall. Keep fighting like this and you'll do exceptionally well in the Tournament."

"Thank you, Professor."

Team CRDL slowly moved back to the bleachers.

"I know that's tough to follow up with, but we have time for one more match. Volunteers?" Glynda looked at Lapis. "Miss Lazuli, you've been uncharacteristically docile the past few classes. Step down here, please."

Lapis sighed and walked down and stood beside Glynda.

"Now, let's find you an opponent."

"We'll give her a workout." Lysette and Miltia said at the same time.

Glynda looked at them. "Lysette and Miltia, right? Brave as it is, I'm afraid only one-" She started.

"Let's do it." Lapis interrupted, ignoring the stern look Glynda gave her before the two challengers joined her in the amphitheater. On Lysette's left bracer was a shield and a sword extended from her right bracer while Miltia had her clawed gauntlets on. Lapis drew her sword and popped the joints in her neck. "I'll try not to leave any scars." She told them.

The two smirked then Miltia charged ahead with a flurry of strikes that Lapis parried before pushing her back. Lysette ran forward and Lapis deflected her sword and Lysette blocked a strike with her shield. After being kicked backwards by Lysette, Lapis easily blocked strong attacks by Miltia then pinned her claws and Lysette's sword down before kicking Lysette then Miltia.

Cinder looked at Steel and Onyx. "Your friends are really good." She said then turned back to the match as Lapis delivering her own flurry of strikes at Miltia before shooting at Lysette, forcing the latter to use her shield. She wasn't aware that Lapis got within striking distance until the shots stopped and lowered her shield. She barely sidestepped her but got kicked in the side. Miltia charged back in then managed to disarm the Faunus. Miltia went for another strike when Lapis' eyes began to change through the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

"Miss..." She whispered when Miltia looked her right in the eyes and the latter's attack missed her by just a little. She then jumped past Miltia and grabbed her sword before charging at the two again.

Lysette and Miltia gave a barely noticeable nod then turned to Glynda. "We forfeit." They said in unison, surprising their opponent.

Lapis looked at them. "You're... not gonna even try?"

"You're world renowned as a fighter." Miltia said.

"And we're clearly out of your league." Lysette added.

"Then Lapis Lazuli wins the match. I'd suggest taking time to think your opponents through next time." Glynda said.

"Will do." The challengers said then left.

Lapis looked like she was falling asleep before a chime signaled the end of class and startled her awake. "That's the end of class. Remember the dance this weekend and your first mission is on Monday. No excuses." Glynda said then looked at Lapis, who was already walking out. "Miss Lazuli, I'd like to speak with you."

"I have a research project I need to work on, Professor." Lapis said.

"Miss Lazuli-" Glynda started.

"I said I'm busy, Professor Goodwitch!" Lapis snapped and everyone looked at her as she walked away.

"Guys, I'm really worried." Ragora said. "She's pushing herself too hard."

Neo signed to them all. "We need to talk to her."

Outside the classroom, Team SLVR and Team CMSN walked away but Sun ran to Lapis.

"Hey, Lapis." He called, betting her to turn an annoyed glare to him.

"What, Sun?" She asked.

"You okay?"

"Fine."

"So, I heard there's a dance this weekend. Lame, but you and me wouldn't be as lame, right?"

"Speak English, Sun. What are you talking about?"

"The dance. Wanna go or not?"

"I don't have time for that stupid dance! You of all people should've understood that!" The blue haired girl snapped then marched off past her friends.

In Team SLVR's dorm room, Lapis looked at her teammates and Cinder's team with shock. "I'm sorry. What was that?!" She asked.

"Come to the dance, Lapis." Cinder said.

"No chance! We have bigger issues to worry about!"

"Lapis, you're worrying us. You're letting this investigation mess with your head." Simin said.

"You don't sleep, you don't eat, your grades are suffering-" Vella said.

"I don't give a fuck about my grades! My sister and her friends are planning something big, and we need to find out what it is because people's lives are at stake!"

Ragora looked at her partner. "We know and we're trying to figure that out."

"You, Neo, and Sun told us they've got something going on in the southeast of the city." Mercury said.

"And Merc and I found out that Vale was the only Kingdom hit by the Dust robberies as well as the fact that the Black Rose stole a shipment of Atlas military tech." Emerald said.

"But there are still questions that need answered!" Lapis told them.

Neo signed to her idol. "Lapis, you won't be able to do anything if you can't even stay awake. We saw you after your match! You were nearly asleep on your feet!" Cinder translated.

"I pushed myself harder than this when my mother was training me."

"Just take it easy for one day is all we're asking." Simin said.

"The dance'll be fun. Neo and I plan to make sure of that." Ragora said. "We're planning it out."

"What?!" Lapis asked.

"Team CFVY has been away longer than planned. So, Neo and I are picking up where they left off. We'll make sure the night is perfect."

"And even better, Ozpin greenlit you to perform a song!" Vella squealed.

The Faunus turned an ice cold glare to her teammate. "You didn't!"

"Dude, you're a phenomenal singer. We've all heard you." Mercury said.

"After the dance, we'll resume the search." Simin said with a small smile.

"Come on, Lapis. What do you think?" Cinder asked.

"I think this is just a massive waste of time and energy." Lapis said then walked to the door. "I'll be in the library." She told them then left.

"We can't let her keep pushing herself like this." The voice from Neo's Scroll said.

In Team SLMO's dorm room, Steel looked at Miltia and Lysette. "You're sure?"

"Absolutely." Lysette said.

"After looking her in the eyes, things went black briefly. When I snapped out of it, she was running to us with her katana." Miltia said. "She only made a slight adjustment, though."

"To make it seem like she can't be touched. She doesn't broadcast it, putting those she fights at a disadvantage."

"So, she takes control of someone when her eyes change colors, giving her an opportunity to take fate into her own hands." Onyx thought aloud.

"Interesting Semblance." Steel said. "Send this intel to the Heads."

The girls nodded then the four sent the information to their bosses.

Having received the intel while on a video chat, Team RWBY looked at each other.

"Did you know about this, Blake?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, but I never imagined she'd use it in a manner similar to Pyrrha's Polarity." Blake replied.

"Should we try using it against her somehow?" Yang asked.

"Unfortunately, we can't. She's unaffected by it."

"Of course, it wouldn't be that easy." Weiss said. "By the way, everything is all set. Pyrrha is prepped for infiltration."

Ruby smirked. "Perfect." She said. "Then I believe we are concluded for the night, girls."

With that, the four ended the call and Ruby took the time to relax. "Things are really gonna be shaken up now."

That's chapter fourteen

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