Pyrrha leaned back. Cardin's mace almost scraped her nose from his power-filled strike. Her form would have even made the best limbo player in the world jealous.
"STAND STILL," Cardin yelled as Pyrrah's incredible technique side stepped another one of his blows. He stepped back and and spun to increase the power of his next swing and let loose.
Pyrrha brought her shield down and blocked. Wind gusted from the impact of weapon and shield. Both of them were propelled in opposite directions as the mace bounced off from it's own power. Cardin and Pyrrha both looked up at each other, then charged. A deadlock as spear and mace screeched against each other.
"THIS ALL YOU GOT?" Cardin barked.
Pyrrha smiled innocently, "Just trying to make sure you don't get hurt." The crowd of students watching the match began to lightly laugh at Cardin. That was the last line, he didn't care if he won or lost. He was going to make Pyrrha pay for embarrassing him in front of everyone.
Cardin pushed Pyrrha away, "TAKE THIS!" He got in close and swung low and aimed for Pyrrha's ankles in hopes of a breaking them in one quick slash.
Pyrrha closed her eyes and chuckled, "Heh." Her beautiful vivid-green eyes could see an attack like that from a mile away. She let Cardin have a false sense of hope as his mace drew closer and closer. Everyone was in total shock at what they thought was going to happen. Was the untouchable Pyrrha going to take damage?
"AH," Cardin yelled in a too early victory, making Pyrrha open her eyes. She flipped into the air and landed two kicks into Cardin's left leg and torso. She finished off by drop-kicking his chest. Cardin took a step back as Pyrrha was projected across the sparing arena. She rolled across the ground, sliding and turning to face her opponent, rifle in hand and aiming.
"That supposed to hurt?" Cardin snickered. He brushed off his chest armor and looked to the aura levels...his hadn't dropped a bit.
"No...," Pyrrha said with a growing smile.
Cardin's smirk faded as he realized Pyrrha's shield was no where to be found. "Where the hell-,"
"THIS WAS," Pyrrha yelled. She rolled forward right as her shield smashed into the back of Cardin's head.
Cardin yelled in pain stumbling forward from the surprise attack, "MOTHER..." He looked up to have Pyrrha's knee pulverize his nose. She jumped away and caught her shield with her free hand as Cardin fell on his back from the devastating blow.
Glynda spoke from the sidelines, "OUCH! And that's fifteen percent off of Cardin's aura!"
"Wooooow," Nora said observing the match with the rest of team JNPR. "Pyrrha is sooo amazing!"
Jaune could barely think as he watched his teammate in action. Was Pyrrha always this technical? Always had this great a form? Always so...beautiful? "Y-yeah," he agreed with Nora. "She's good..." he blushed thinking about Pyrrha in that way.
Cardin looked over to find his Aura, projected on a screen, go down. He began to fill with anger and hate. "I'm gonna kill this bitch..." he growled. He tightened his grip on his mace and jumped to his feet. He stared down the great Pyrrha Nikos as he twirled his mace.
"You know, it's not to late to quit," Pyrrha offered trying to be nice. She didn't 'enjoy' embarrassing Cardin in front of the whole class. But she did need a good sparing session.
"Was gonna ask you..." Cardin began as he tapped the floor with his mace three times, "...the same thing."
Pyrrha got into her stance, something was up. Cardin was the type that was all attack and no defensive strategy. Why was he keeping his distance and staying back?
"Wha-," Pyrrha asked seeing two daggers aim for her head in the corner of her eye. She quickly turned and blocked both blades with her spear. "YOU?" she asked in surprise at one of Cardin's teammates.
"Damn it! You're fast," Russel Thrash cursed as he pushed against Pyrrha.
"Why are you doing this?" Pyrrha asked as she pushed back. It was against the rules to intervene in a duel. Why did Russel? Was it because his leader was losing? No, his light-green mohawk looked like it had been brushed and jelled like he was presenting himself for something. Pyrrha then remembered that all of team CRDL had cleaned themselves up before the match started. "Then that would mean..." Pyrrha began to realize, "THERE!"
"HOW?" Sky Lark, also of team CRDL, yelled as his halberd clashed against Pyrrha's shield.
Pyrrha pushed back against both of the new attackers. "Why...are you doing this?"
"YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED HER YET?" Cardin yelled at his minions. To their credit, the two of them slowly began to overpower Pyrrha. "Get her..." Cardin growled at Dove Bronzewing, the last member of his team, who stood by his leader's side.
"With pleasure," Dove smiled. He aimed his sword between Russel and Sky, right at the Great Pyrrha Nikos. "Untouchable my ass..." he took his shot.
Sky and Russel fell to ground hard as Pyrrha sprawled on the ground and swept them both in one swift motion to avoid the bullet. She quickly rolled across the ground and back to her feet as she heard Dove's weapon fire at her.
Cardin began to growl, "I thought you said where a good shot..."
Dove defended himself as he continue to fire, "I AM!"
"THEN GET HER!"
Dove turned and argued with his leader about his errant shots, "I'M TRYING MY BEST! SHE'S TOO FAST!" He looked back to Pyrrha and yelled, "WHA-," her shield crashed into his face and sent him flying.
Pyrrha didn't stop and used her momentum and aimed her assault on Cardin. "That it?" he smirked as he blocked Pyrrha's spear with his mace. His smile blasted off from the surprise kick Pyrrha delivered into his jaw. Cardin backed up, touching his jaw and bring his hand up to reveal blood. All of his team regrouped at his side, and prepared their next attack against the best warrior in the room.
Banner whispered to Glynda, "I didn't know you let all of team CRDL spare against Pyrrha."
Glynda responded in shock, "I thought you allowed this!" They had no time to stop the match...
"TEAM CRDL," Pyrrha yelled at all four of them, "I challenge you. Right here, right now."
Cardin with his ego quickly responded, "Your funeral, NIKOS!" Pyrrha charged toward the entirety of team CRDL...and they charged at her.
Blake wondered the empty halls of Beacon while everyone was in class, nose in book. She hissed as she remembered this morning events, "Stupid team…stupid White Fang…STUPID EVERYTHING!" Why did Yang have to be so persistent about going to that damn dance? The White Fang had to be stopped at all costs. They weren't just gonna wait around until everyone was ready! Blake turned, gritting her teeth in a fit and threw her book blindly.
"OWWWW!" Sun lay on the ground, checking his face for blood. He grabbed the book and the text on the back snagged his attention, "A man with two souls, each fighting for control of the body…" he said slowly becoming interested. "HEY," Sun turned to the culprit that had caused his pain, "WHO THREW THIS AT…Blake?" he asked as he saw her storm off.
Blake was on the verge of exploding. No one knew what it was like to live in shadows. Born with no life, into subjugation. Treated like a worthless animal and stripped of all rights. Crushed by cruel, ruthless human rule and treated as a lesser being just for being a Faunus. There was one man who would stop at nothing to eliminate the humans in power, Adam Taurus. Blake couldn't believe how much she had trusted that man's lies. His speech to the White Fang still haunted her to this day...
"We'll descend upon the world; take back what the humans have stolen from us! From the shadows, we'll reclaim our destiny and set our future free. We shall rise, oh we shall rise! Above the darkness and the shame, torture and pain, ridicule and hate and the binding of our fate! The human's call us monsters, thieves, murders, degenerates, crazy, heartless, mutts and nothing but pure evil! Well, if that's what they want…we'll give it to them! Join me my brothers and sisters and we shall take back Remnant from the Human's in power!" Blake covered her mouth in horror as all the White Fang sided with Adam and his mislead and blood thirsty ways. Then...nothing but pitch black.
"Blake? BLAKE? Blake, wake up!"
Blake slowly opened her eyes, "W-whaaa…?"
Sun sighed knowing Blake hadn't died, "Ohgoodyou'realive!"
"Sun…why…why are you holding me?"
Sun blushed knowing how the situation looked, "Well…I, heh, didn't want to let your body hit the floor so I heroically ran and caught-,"
Blake eyes widened realizing what she said, "WHY ARE YOU HOLDING ME?" She pushed Sun off of her and stormed off. "I don't have time for your childish games, Sun!"
Sun blocked her path. "Blake…stop. Please…"
Blake took a step back and reached for Gambol Shroud, "Get. Out. Of my way."
"No." Sun stepped into Blake's face, the most serious he had ever been in his life. "I'm not going to let you, Blake." He quickly brought her book between the two of them, "I believe this is yours?" Sun asked with his cheeky smile.
Blake blushed at his saddened kindness. "Why…"
Sun chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, "Well, you threw it at me and it belongs to you. So I decided to be nice and return it to the own- hey…Blake, what's wrong?"
Blake was standing there, shaking as tears ran down her face. The book went flying as Blake pushed Sun with all her weight, "YOU IDIOT!" She fell to her knees and began to cry her eyes out.
Sun looked down at her, not knowing what to say. "Blake…"
"Why, Sun? Why?" Blake sobbed. "WHY ARE YOU SO STUBBORN? WHY CAN'T YOU ALL JUST LEAVE ME ALONE? I'm just a worthless Faunus that was dumb enough to join with the White Fang and leave my family. All I do is cause suffering for my loved ones...why do you all stick with me?"
Sun keeled down next to his weeping friend and tried to comforted her. "Oh, Blake...why would you say those things about yourself?"
"BECAUSE IT'S TRUE," Blake screamed. "I'm a burden..."
"No, Blake, you're my friend. You're part of a team that cares deeply for you and many others care for your wellbeing. You are one of the most kindhearted, sweetest, sexy-I MEAN SENSITIVE and beautiful people I have ever met!"
All of those kind words brought a blush upon Blake's face. "S-shut up."
"Listen," Sun sighed, "Yang asked me to come find you after what happened after Pyrrha's and Cardin's match..."
"What happened?" Blake asked worried.
"Not important right now!" Sun yelled catching her off guard. "She told me that all of this White Fang case was horribly affecting you. You need to get rest!"
"I CAN'T SIT AROUND AND-," Blake was interrupted by the lips of Sun as the palm of his hand gently held the side of her grieving face.
He pulled away and smiled at Blake who was left in complete and utter shock. "And I CAN'T sit around and watch you do these things to yourself. You've lost weight, are always exhausted and my grades are actually better than yours and I'm me! AND HECK, YOU COLLAPSED AND ALMOST FELL ON YOUR FACE JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO!"
Blake sat there on the ground, not saying a word.
"You gave your life for me at the docks when you guarded me from that Torchwick guy...and I'd happily give mine up to protect you. Hell...I did die. Let me tell you, wasn't fun!" Sun sighed knowing he was getting off topic. "Blake, listen...you need to rest. I know you don't want too, but it's vital so you can catch Roman and stop the White Fang. So please," Sun walked over and grabbed Blake's book and set it in her lap, "if you won't do it for yourself, do it for Yang. She's worried sick about you." Sun turned and headed down the hall, feeling...empty. Yeah, he had kissed Blake who he had feelings for, but it didn't feel deserved. There was no love, no passion no consent from Blake. Sun just acted on his own selfish desires and took advantage of his friend, someone who trusted him. As he walked, he felt his own hot tears as he realized the wrongs of his actions. He was just trying to help a girl, a wonderful girl who he cared for.
Blake sat on the ground, she hadn't moved an inch. "Did that just happen," she questioned reality. Sun's interaction had created even more questions for the broken Faunus. Had Sun always had feelings for her? For how long? What was the deal with Pyrrha and Cardin? Too many questions...and new ones appeared faster than they could be answered...
"NOW," Cardin ordered. His three lackeys nodded and took position.
Russel and Sky charged and scissored their blades in hopes to chop Pyrrha in half. Dove kept his distance and aimed.
Pyrrha jumped and kicked off the blades. Dove and Russel flew back from golden heels slamming into their jaws as Pyrrha aimed her rifle, midair, and got off a shot right between Dove's eyes. He sprawled back.
Cardin's fist shook in anger as Pyrrha landed gracefully in-front of him. He looked around and saw his team slowly picking themselves off the ground. "WORTHLESS," he yelled at his own team before reengaging Pyrrha. Every one of his strikes were either deflected by her spear, or her shield took the impact. Each strike became more and more powerful as Cardin screamed, "I WILL WIN THIS, NIKOS! BET ON THA-," he was shut up by a kick to the chest.
"You were open," Pyrrha informed pulling back her leg.
Cardin lost it, giving into emotion. "I'LL KILL YOU!" He charged in again and began swinging recklessly.
Pyrrha sidestepped every strike. Concrete cratered as Cardin's mace slammed into the ground. She saw on opening and her shield crashed against Cardin's face.
"Bitch..." Cardin cussed as he stumbled back with his face in his free hand.
Pyrrha tried to give useful information, "You could use some work on technique. Instead of rushing in try too-,"
"AHHH," Russel yelled as he jumped over Cardin and spun toward Pyrrha in the air. He aimed his blades at Pyrrha's face and drew closer and closer at great speed. Pyrrha ducked under the attack and using Russel's momentum, hip tossing him into a wall.
The aura screen made a buzzing noise as Russel's level went to red, disabling him from further combat.
"Sorry," Pyrrha waved toward him, letting her guard down. Sky stepped in and swung his halberd at her side. She quickly snapped back into her combat mentality and her strategic mind began to work. She didn't have enough time to bring up her shield...
Sparks flew as Pyrrha's spear clashed with the metal blade of Sky's halberd and pushed it up. She quickly slashed at Sky's ankles, bringing him lower to the ground. Pyrrha turned and her shin buried itself into Sky's face. His aura levels went into the danger zone as he sprawled on the ground.
Dove wondered toward Cardin's side, dizzy.
"THAT'S IT," Cardin screamed. He brought his mace up, smacking Dove in the face and knocking him out, and slammed down on the ground with all his might. Huge pieces of the concrete floor zoomed toward Pyrrha. She flipped backwards making each concrete shard miss. Cardin charged in, all or nothing. He wasn't going to stop until Pyrrha wasn't breathing. Pyrrha charged in too, ready to end this.
Cardin swung with might, Pyrrha evaded with technique. She slashed his exposed side, stabbing into his armor's weak-points. Cardin gritted his teeth in pain and swung again, leaving himself open. Pyrrha brought her arm back to stab into Cardin's exposed chest, but was grabbed by her hair.
"GOT YOU," Cardin yelled in victory. He raised his mace to strike Pyrrha in her throat. Cardin gasped for air and leaned over as Pyrrha switched to hand to hand and struck under his ribs.
"GO PYRRHA," Jaune yelled giving her the courage and confidence to end the match. Pyrrha jumped to her hands and drop-kicked Cardin in his jaw making him fly straight up. Pyrrha rolled to her feet and grabbed her spear and it went around Cardin's throat as she jumped up to him. The entire room felt the shockwave as Pyrrha slammed Cardin into the ground, neck first.
"And the winner is," Glynda said watching Cardin's aura level drop to red, "MISS NIKOS!" The entire room cheered as Pyrrha grabbed her weapons an bowed before the crowd.
"GOOD JOB, PYRRHA," Nora yelled.
"Nooooora," Ren blushed having to hold onto Nora so she didn't run around.
"Not so fast...Bitch," Pyrrha heard behind her.
"Excuse m-," Pyrrha began to asked as Cardin swung his mace at the back of her head. Pyrrha ducked and counter attacked by muscle memory. She slammed her shield in the back of Cardin's arm...
SNAP
Cardin screamed in pain as he held his broken elbow. Everyone gasped in horror. Did that just happen? Did the great Pyrrha Nikos just break someone's arm?
Pyrrha stood their. "I...I...I didn't mean..." How did she allow herself to do that? Why did she use full force against a opponent who's aura was already weak? She looked to the crowd to find Coco nodding at her, trying to hide a smile. Velvet on the other hand...horrified at someone who she thought she could look up to.
Glynda rushed to Cardin's aid as Banner shook Pyrrha. "Pyrrha, what happened?" She just stood their, in total shock.
Among the chaos, Mercury whispered to Emerald and smirked, "Well...this'll work too."
Thank you all for reading. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and all it's twists! Be sure to review and give me your opinions!