Chapter 6. Training Days.

Over the next couple weeks, team ALBM had started their training sessions. Ash tried as best he could to teach his team how to fight, but between Billy's overly excited movements, Lyra's fear of fighting and Morgana's outright refusal to fight up close, he had his hands full. Morgana took over afterward to try to educate the team on semblance, aura and dust. It was a tricky thing to teach, especially since they didn't know what half the team's semblance was.

"Alright, now use your aura Ash!" Morgana shouted as she whipped black bolts at him. He flipped out of the way. She started cursing. "Quit flipping around! You do know what aura is right?"

"Of course I know what aura is, I'm not an idiot!" Ash shouted back, he flipped out of the way of more black bolts. "I just don't know how to use it."

"You have got to be kidding me!" Morgana shouted, whipping bolts faster and faster. He tried to flip out of the way but was hit in mid air, he slammed right into a wall. "Alright, Billy's next! Billy wake up!"

"Billy's sleeping." Lyra squeaked back awkwardly. "Silver lining, I think I'm getting better with this semblance thing."

"Alright, maybe we should call it a wrap or something." Ash groaned, limping back towards the others. "Good hustle team."

"Are you alright?" Morgana asked, he was surprised to hear a note of concern for his well being.

"No, I think I cracked a rib. Again." Ash said, he was smiling, he couldn't seem to stop. It hurt that much.

"Good!" She said with a broad grin. The note of concern wasn't there anymore. "Maybe next time you'll use your aura."

"I'm in so much pain." Ash muttered, his lips barely moved, his face frozen in a pained smile.

"Walk it off." She replied. She sauntered off. He stood helpless for a moment before collapsing to the ground.

He stared up at the sky, the fluffy white clouds floated across the blue backdrop. A cool wind blew over his body, cooling it rapidly. He felt great, other than the pain of course. He wiped the sweat from his brow and relaxed. He heard footsteps approaching him.

"Well look who it is." Came a familiar voice. Gabriel, the second year. "If it isn't the chainganger."

"Gabriel, how are you doing?" Ash asked. Gabriel stared down at him, eyebrow raised.

"I'm doing great, what are you doing on the ground?" Gabriel asked. He held his hand out. Ash passed on it.

"I'm good here, think I cracked a rib training but as long as I don't move, it doesn't hurt. That much." Ash groaned. He felt hands grab his shoulders and lift, there was a lot of pain. He noticed there was another person standing next to Gabriel, he wore ruddy red plate armor over dark leather. It wasn't something you normally saw these days but it looked pretty imposing. His face was obscured by a bucket helm, a burning sword was painted across his breastplate. Despite his imposing appearance he was noticeably shorter than Gabriel.

"Oh I apologize!" Gabriel interjected. "Ashton Gray, Toreth Rudd. Toreth is one of my team mates."

"Pleased to meet you." Ash said weakly, holding out his hand. Toreth simply stared back, he cautious raised his hand and shook it. His grip was strong and surprisingly hot to the touch. "Now if you'll excuse me."

Ash collapsed face first into the pavement. He could hear cursing and they turned him over. His face was bleeding, he probably landed on his nose. His eyes were stinging, he couldn't open them. He heard someone shouting. He tried to listen.

"What is going on here?" A woman asked, her voice was soft and delicate, yet she carried it with surprising force. It was intoxicating.

"I, uh, he fell, and uh..." Gabriel stammered, Gabriel didn't seem the one to stammer so easily. Ash struggled to open his eyes but they were stinging so badly. He had to get a look at this girl. Suddenly he felt a hand gently touching his chest.

"Are you okay?" The voice asked, clearly aimed at him now. He tried again to open his eyes but it burned. The hand moved across his face, it was like velvet. His breathing went heavy. "Shhh, don't struggle, your making it worse. I can help."

"W-what?" Gabriel stammered. He could hear an awkward cough coming from inside Toreth's helmet. Suddenly soft lips were pressed against Ash's and he felt the whole world wash away. It was like his soul shot off into the sky and was now in free fall. He felt great. It took him a while to notice the lips were gone, he opened his eyes in a panic.

He was staring up at a delicate looking girl with long blonde hair and vibrant green eyes. She wore an intricate rose ensemble with the usual battleskirt he's been seeing all over Beacon. She wore an ordinary blue jean jacket over it. He couldn't stop smiling, he noticed he wasn't in pain anymore.

"How are you?" She asked softly. He felt like that was a trick question.

"I feel amazing." Ash said through his giant grin. He was blushing profusely.

"How did you do that?" Gabriel asked. "He was a bloody mess a few seconds ago."

"It's my semblance." She said with a slight curtsy.

"You know, I'm feeling pretty sore myself." Gabriel said with a big grin. "Maybe you can kiss me."

"You look fine." She said. She laughed, Ash felt chills when she did it. He was completely speechless.

"No I'm not, I have a black eye, see!" He said, he smacked Toreth in the shoulder who immediately decked him. Gabriel dropped to the ground like a rock. She swung around gracefully. Ash could have sworn he saw her wink at him. She opened up a lacy rose umbrella and strolled off.

"D-did that just happen?" Ash finally managed to stammer out. His heart felt like it was going to burst from his chest.

"I-I have no idea." Gabriel stammered back. He lifted himself off the ground. Toreth simply shrugged. "I've never seen that girl before."

"We never learned her name." Ash said, pulling himself to his feet.

"We never learned her name?" Gabriel shouted. He smacked Toreth on the shoulder. "I'm going for it!"

He sprinted off full speed in the direction she left. Ash looked back to Toreth who shrugged. Toreth patted him on the shoulder before leaving. Ash stood around in the empty courtyard for a few moments, he felt like his breath was finally coming back to him.

Over the next few days Ash had the pleasure of not having to see Cardin's ugly mug around. He seemed to be busy elsewhere. ALBM was training harder than ever but there still were plenty of problems. Morgana and Lyra both didn't have particularly useful weapons. That and they still hated each other, even if they are both pretending otherwise. That and every sparring match with Billy usually has him flailing around without any direction or focus. Ozpin saw something in this team, he had to if he hand selected them, but the mystery of what that might be was really starting to eat away at Ash. Out of nowhere a finger poked him in the nose.

"Boop!" Came a excited voice. He turned to his unexpected company and found Nora balancing on one foot.

"What was that for?" Ash asked. She wobbled back and forth with a big smile.

"You looked pretty bummed out so I thought I'd cheer you up!" She said in a sing song sort of way. Ash couldn't help but smile.

"Just tired out from training." Ash said, she nodded and gave him a salute.

"Where's your friend?" Ash asked. She took a moment as if she was trying to remember a phone number. She eventually figured out who he was talking about.

"Ren! He's over by the drinking fountain back there. I challenged him to a race and he's still pretty tired out." Said Nora as she began cartwheeling around him. She stopped and leaned in close. "Don't tell anyone but he get's winded pretty easy if you ask me."

"Are you two..." Ash began, Nora immediately began to shake her head.

"No we're partners. Not partners partners but the other kind of partner." She began to blurt out. He may have just opened a can of worms. It took him a moment to realize she was still rambling. "Not that he isn't an attractive man, he has that whole zen thing that he pulls off so well but..."

"Nora, I understand." Ash interrupted. She looked over her shoulder and started hopping up and down.

"Speak of the devil, gotta go!" She shouted. She sprinted off full speed. Ren was limping by holding a glass of water. Ash watched as Nora tackled him full speed sending the glass of water soaring into the air. Ren somehow managed to catch it while he was still sprawled out on the floor. The water, however, was now all over the place.

Glynda was hosting sparring matches both to educate the weaker students in how to properly fight and to prepare those who are signing up for the big upcoming tournament at the Vytal Festival. Ash was up against a girl with red hair and a very exotic outfit. She carried a sword and shield. She looked very familiar but he just couldn't place it. He figured it couldn't be too much trouble.

"Now, remember to keep an eye on your aura." Glynda instructed as they circled each other, weapons drawn. "You may begin."

The girl was fast, before he could take another step she was at his throat. He flipped out of the way, swinging his blade down on her, she deflected it with her shield. He barely had time to parry her next attack when she smacked him in the chest with the side of her shield. He staggered back and before he could take another step her shield collided with his face. He could see a splatter of blood coming from his nose. He fell on his ass. He couldn't figure out where his weapon went. She knelt down next to him.

"I'm sorry!" She shouted mopping his face down with a cloth. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard."

"Mr Gray, why didn't you use your aura?" Glynda asked. "You're almost as bad as Mr Arc."

"I thought I could win without it." Ash answered, he didn't feel like telling her he didn't know how to use his aura.

"Mr Gray, why did you think you could win against a world renowned tournament champion such as Ms Nikos here." Glynda asked. Ash turned back to the red haired girl who had a sort of nervous smile.

"Well I just trusted you to set me up with someone I had a chance with." Ash said, he immediately wiped the smile of his face. Glynda looked pretty pissed.

"He has a point, he wasn't ready for that level of fighting." Ms Nikos said standing up. "He should have gone against a less skilled opponent.

"Then how would he ever learn?" Glynda asked. "If he is ever to succeed he needs to be challenged. That goes with you too Mr Arc. Class dismissed."

"Thanks for standing up for me there." Ash said, the girl patted him on the shoulder. "I'm Ashton, Ashton Gray."

"Pyrrha, Pyrrha Nikos." She said with a smile. "Good luck with your training."

"You too." He replied. He felt stupid for it. Why would she need more training. Even after all his training, he was still nowhere near her level.

Ash and his team were sitting in the cafeteria. It was as crowded as one would expect. He had been learning the structure of this school over the last few weeks. Fourth years rarely spent much time around the campus and would spend plenty of free time out on the grounds or in the city itself. Third years commanded a lot of respect from the first years and seemed the most eager to help out around the school. Fourth years seem like they can't wait to graduate. Second years seem to be on the fence, they are like first years except more confident. He was still wondering if he'd make it that long.

"Can you believe it?" Lyra squeaked. She was pointing across the cafeteria, Cardin was making a scene bothering a faunus girl. "Nobody even tries to stop him, a school full of warriors and not one of them can stand up to a bully.

"Don't take it personally." Morgana shrugged. "People like Cardin exist everywhere, most of these students just want to get on with their day. It's a lot of hassle to piss off a bully for the sake of a stranger."

"Yeah, imagine having to deal with Cardin hating you for four years." Ash agreed. He paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Oh wait!"

"I don't get it." Billy replied sheepishly.

"I think I lost my appetite." Lyra said. She dropped her fork and left. Billy started eating the food off her plate.

Ash and Billy were wandering the grounds. Lyra wanted to be left alone and Morgana seemed to vanish. Ash slouched down against a tree, Billy sat next to him. It was a rather hot day. Billy looked like he was trying to stop himself from sneezing, trying and failing. He let out a loud and violent sneeze, which emitted an impressive fireball. Ash rolled out of the way and the ground in front of Billy caught fire. Billy covered his nose, his face was red.

"What the hell was that?" Ash asked. He desperately tried to smother the grassfire. Billy fumbled around for a bit but they managed to put it out.

"That happens sometimes." Billy shrugged. He was acting like breathing fire is a normal thing.

"How did you do that?" Ash asked. Billy thought about it for a minute.

"When I was a kid, my friend Ricky dared me to snort dust." Billy replied. Ash blinked in amazement. Billy gave a shrug. "Not all of it came out, sometimes it comes out when I sneeze."

"Ricky's a prick" Ash said. He may have just figured out why Billy is the way he is. He's never heard of anyone snorting dust before, or at least surviving the experience. The fact Billy isn't a gibbering mess tells wonders about him.

"It's alright." Billy said with a big smile. "I always feel a lot better after I sneeze. Things get a lot clearer."

"Really?" Ash asked.

"Momma says I should try to sneeze more often but I like to wait until it comes naturally." He said with a big smile. He sneezed yet again and a tiny lightning bolt shot out of his left nostril. "It comes in different flavours."