Chapter 5

Brothers and Sisters


=MORGAN=

The streets of vale were a lot heavier on the security side these days. Not only were those Atlas eyesores floating above but now armed Atlas troops marched the streets. It was almost like an occupation at this point. Only the Atlas forces are the good guys. Morgan didn't trust them, but who was she to judge.

Lyra and her were heading for coffee. It had become a part of their routine, coming to the city on their days off. They weren't fighting in the tournament, and their team didn't have a battle lined up until the afternoon. Plenty of time.

"So, that conference the other day certainly turned into a thing." Lyra said. "I mean, your dad. Ash's dad."

"They certainly had their problems." Morgan said. "I've never seen anyone irritate my father like that."

"Like father like son, those Gray's sure are trouble." Lyra said.

"And Ozpin made one our leader." Morgan said. "Think about that."

"We're doomed." Lyra said. They both laughed. "Well, he's come a long way."

"He's still drinking though." Morgan said. Lyra nodded. "He thinks we don't know."

"Him and that Calico fellow." Lyra said. "It's becoming a problem."

"Maybe we need to do something about it." Morgan said.

"Intervention? Didn't we already do that?" Lyra asked.

"It didn't stick." Morgan said. "Damnit Ash, why is he such a screw up?"

"We'll, he's at least keeping it controlled better." Lyra said. "It's not like before, when he was stumbling around drunk robbing people."

"Yeah, a real improvement." Morgan said.

From the corner of her eye she saw something. A man with dark hair, gaunt features and pale skin. His hair was a long, messy mane with thick sideburns to match. He wore a long dark coat. He spotted her and ducked down an alley. Morgan froze, Lyra spun around and tapped her shoulder.

"What?" Lyra asked.

"I just saw my brother." Morgan said. She walked towards the alley, Lyra followed her.

"Arthur?" Lyra asked.

"No, not Arthur." Morgan said. "Mikael."

"Your twin brother?" Lyra said. "The one you don't talk about?"

"Yeah, that would be him." Morgan said.

They hurried down the alley, she saw a glimps of his coat turning a corner. She picked up speed. She spun around the corner, a pair of claws swung for her. She blocked with her aura. She staggered back. It was Mikael alright. She hasn't seen him in years but she'd recognise him anywhere.

"Mikael, it's me, Morgana!" Morgan said. She reached slowly for her weapon. She noticed Lyra looked confused. Morgan gave her a nod. Lyra reached for Maibaum.

"I don't..." He mumbled. "No... you can't be her. You aren't her. Why do you have her face?"

"Mikael calm down. It's me, your sister." Morgan said. She slowly drew her weapon, Black Willow. "You remember me."

"You can't fool me. It's another one of your tricks. I know it's you Shadow Man!" He roared. He charged, Morgan whipped a black bolt into his head, staggering him. Lyra stabbed him in the back with Maibaum. He began to spasm as the electrical current coursed through his body. He collapsed.

"What was that?" Lyra asked.

"He's always been confused. Just never this bad. Isolation must have done something to him." Morgan said. "Who was he talking about."

"Shadow Man." Lyra said. Her eyes widened. "Oh no."

"What?" Morgan asked.

"That was the man from the cave, the one who attacked Gwyn and the others." Lyra said.

"What does he want with my brother?" Morgan asked. She shook her head. "Damnit it all, we need to move him somewhere."

"Beacon?" Lyra asked.

"I don't know if that will work." Morgan said. "I'm calling Ash, we need to borrow one of his father's warehouses."

"That'll go over well." Lyra said.

"Perks of being a teammate, it's gotta work." Morgan said.

"I hope this ends with a nice long explanation." Lyra said. They lifted up Mikael by the shoulders. "Because your brother is very heavy."

"He actually lost a lot of weight." Morgan said. She was a little worried. "He used to be on the husky side. I might have been as well."

"That would have been a sight." Lyra said.

"Oh shut up." Morgan said. "I was going through a lot."

"Sure, a lot of food." Lyra said. She started snickering. Morgan shook her head.

"I don't think we're going to make it to the match." Morgan said.


=ARTHUR=

"The randomization process has started!" Professor Oobleck called out.

"It looks like the notorious team ALGT of Beacon is about to face off against..." Port boomed. He paused. "Dear lord, this is going to be one hell of a match. Team BRNZ of Haven!"

"Didn't they just fight?" Oobleck asked.

"No, my old friend, that was team BRNZ of Shade. I know that could be confusing." Port said. "This is the team that won last Vytal festival."

"Right, now I remember, Team ALGT were absolutely decimated." Oobleck said.

"No pressure." Gabriel muttered.

"We're going up against BRNZ sooner than expected." Arthur said.

"Round one though?" Lancel asked.

"We lose this, it's all over." Gabriel says. "Two losses to the same team?"

"This early in the festival?" Lancel said.

"Oh come on we've been practicing." Arthur said. "We stick to our plan. Right Tor?"

Toreth shrugged. They stared at him. He shrugged again. They shook their heads, Lancel and Gabriel started pacing.

"Bronn is tough, Ricaro is fast. Ninos can never be underestimated, and given time he'll take us all out himself. Zann is the wildcard. He took out Lancel in a single strike." Arthur said.

"More like a single slap." Gabriel replied.

"He was wearing a glove!" Lancel shouted.

"We follow the plan. Lancel distracts Bronn. Gabriel takes down Ricaro. Toreth you take on Zann. I'll take on Ninos." Arthur said. "Speed versus strength, range versus air, endurance versus speed, strength versus mind."

"We're dead." Gabriel said. "But heck, what choice do we got? Good luck with the strongman Lancel, I'm sure you'll do just fine."

"Yeah, this plan feels all too real now." Lancel said.

"Don't faint on us now." Gabriel said.

"Oh shut up."

"Hands together." Arthur said. The others groaned. "Come on, let's go."

They placed their hands together. They nodded and turned back to the arena. They stepped onto the center platform. Before them were four very impressive looking fighters. Bronn Zerakles, the largest man they have ever seen. Towering high above them with more muscle than the strongest of bulls. His skin was of an olive shade, and a lot of it was visible. His hair was curly and black. His eyes were a deep blue. He wore a bronze chestplate and wore a lion grimm cloak, fake but otherwise visually impressive. His weapon was a massive bronze hammer. It also could transform into a flamethrower, Arthur learned that one the hard way.

Next was Ricaro Chrysos, the spry one. His white hoodie had a golden bird shaped helmet over it. Under his arms were gliding wings. Strapped to his back was small jetpack. His skin barely visible but it was of an olive hue as Arthur remembered. He had messy blonde hair and pale blue eyes. He had a crazy fighting style, launching himself into the air. Strapped to his arms were two pata blades. Gauntlets with swords coming out of them. The swords could snap in half and fold around into a circle forming small buckler shields. They switch fast too, so he can block a strike and then counter with a single arm if neccesary.

Past him was Ninos Kinnivari, the faunus. A man tall and close to rivalling Bronn in strength, he had dark skin reminiscent of dark coffee. He had two large bull horns growing from the sides of his head. He had golden eyes, like a lot of faunus. He wore a ruddy hued halfplate covering his right side, his left was bare. He wore a ruddy bullheaded helmet with slots for his horns on the sides. He didn't need fake horns to complete the helmet design. His weapon was a trident, the prongs were attached to a disk that would rotate them at high speeds. The prongs were made of dust crystals and when spun, they could create a powerful laser. This means he gets more dangerous the more time he has to charge his trident.

Last was Zann Platina. Another faunus. He wore a solid white suit with a matching long brimmed hat, with a single silver glove covered in crystals. Two goat horns grew out from under his hat. He had platinum blonde hair and pale yellow-white eyes. From what Arthur knew about him, he fights with that glove, nothing else. From what Lancel learned, he fights primarily byy slapping his opponents.

Team BRNZ, their bane of existance. Right before them. Round one. Arthur had no idea how they were going to get out of this one but they had no choice but to figure it out. The arena began to pick the environments. Rockfield and Bamboo forest. Neither side had homefield advantage. The Rockfield meant plenty of debris and objects to gain high ground. Bamboo forest meant cramped conditions. They would be better off fighting in the center stage.

"Hey, Arthur." Bronn called out. "Small world huh?"

"Things are going to go differently this time." Arthur said.

"I'd love to go toe to toe with you this time." Bronn said. "Swords versus hammers, see which is better."

"Maybe you will." Arthur said.

"I'm just wondering if the dainty ones going to faint again." Zann called out. "I slapped him once, all I'm saying."

"Hey!" Lancel shouted.

"Told you!" Gabriel laughed.

"Solidarity Gabriel!" Lancel shouted.

"Don't know what that means." Gabriel said.

"It means we work together against our common enemy." Lancel said.

"See all I hear is a nerd being a nerd." Gabriel said.

"Do we even have to fight them?" Ricaro asked. "They are already upstaging us at that."

"I say we let them fight each other and then finish them off after." Ninos said.

Tor gave him an obscene gesture. Ninos dropped his trident and started flexing.

"See, Tor has my back!" Lancel said.

"That's just Tor being Tor." Gabriel says. "He's a rude little bastard." Tor gave him an obscene gesture back in kind. "See?"

"Oh ho! It seems we're ready for one hell of a match! Isn't that right?" Port boomed.

"Of course, this is certainly going to be an excited bout to bet upon briefly. That is before team BRNZ shows us what they are made of." Oobleck said. "That is, I would not condone of betting on matches, that of course would be ridiculous."

"Oh Oobleck my friend, I whole heartedly agree." Port said. Who for some reason was shaking his head in the direction of the camera.

"Let us now count down!" Oobleck said.

"3...2...1..." They began. "Begin!"

Arthur raised Calesvol and charged Ninos. Ninos kicked his trident into his hands and readied it. Arthur swung down hard, Ninos caught it between the prongs and pressed a button. The prongs spun and the blade shot out of Arthur's hands. Already off to a bad start. The trident thrusted forward. Arthur spun out of the way. He dodged the trident and grabbed it. He spun around and pulled the trident with all his strength. Ninos was too strong. Arthur jumped and Ninos pulled his trident back, dragging Arthur towards him. Arthur raised his foot, which collided with Ninos's chest knocking him over.

"Sorry Ninos." Arthur said. He ran towards him and kicked. Ninos caught his foot in his hand and swung, sending him flying off his feet. He swung towards the ground, his armour wrapped around his head forming his helmet. It took a second for the HUD to turn on, just before it hit the ground. He rolled over, the camera feed flickered but he could see Ninos standing over him with a trident in hand. A blinding light flashed and Ninos staggered back. Arthur sweeped his legs and he dropped to the ground. Arthur climbed to his feet and ran to his sword.

He saw Lancel dodging Bronn's strikes. He spun around and opened fire into Bronn, who simply walked towards him without a single flinch. Lancel wasn't exactly firing small calibre rounds either. Lancel bolted back Arondight, his sniper lance, and staggered back. Arthur needed to finish off Ninos fast.

Toreth was going toe to toe with Zann, who kept trying to slap him. Tor kept blocking with Pelendan, his two handed swordbreaker. He wasn't fighting back. Always the pacifist. He hasn't unleashed his secret move yet, so they still have the advantage.

Gabriel was standing out in his bright green longcoat, standing on a rock firing Galatine, his crossbow glaive, at Ricaro. Who was flying circles around him. Ricaro was playing with him at this point.

Arthur turn around to swing at Ninos. Suddenly he found himself in a small corridor. He stumbled around and collided with the rock walls surrounding him. It was dark. He raised his sword and a bright light began to glow from him. He began navigating the darkness. He found a couple paths leading in separate directions with more branching paths. He could faintly here the fight, but it felt like it was at the back of his mind. He spun around and saw a boarbatusk rolling his way. He dodged and swung down. Ninos dove throught a nearby wall and speared him in the chest. He staggered back and crashed through a wall, landing in an identical corridor. What was going on? He stumbled and saw Ninos appear out of nowhere. He swung and blocked his strike. He kicked him in the chest and stumbled back. Ninos vanished.

"This isn't real." Arthur said. "I'm in the arena."

The walls began to distort. He could faintly see the arena, transparent over his vision. He could see Lancel flying in his direction. He braced himself. Lancel collided with him and the arena exploded into reality in vivid colour. Arthur dropped his team mate and raised his blade, Ninos was coming straight for him. He blocked his strike and spun his blade sending Ninos flying. Ninos landed on his feet and began to charge up his trident.

"No you don't." Arthur said.

His blade extended in width. He clicked another button and it's core began to glow green. He swung down and a blast of air launched in Ninos's direction, who flew off his feet. Arthur charged. Ninos fired his laser, which hit Arthur square in the chest and sent him flying off his feet. He threw his sword as he collided with the ground. The sword hit Ninos in the head knocking him to the ground.

"A double knockout!" Oobleck shouted.

"With that Arthur and Ninos are out of the running!" Port said. "What a spectacular display, wouldn't you agree?"

"Precisely. I haven't seen that kind of a display in quite some time." Oobleck shouted.

Lancel climbed back to his feet and fired another round at the advancing Bronn. Bronn swung his hammer down at Lancel who tried to block it only to be crushed by the hammer.

"Ooh, that's got to hurt!" Port said. "Lancel is almost out with one point remaining before disqualification."

"He's getting up." Oobleck shouted. "My word! What determination. But who is that coming up behind him, it's Zann Platina!"

"Wait what?" Lancel shouted. He spun around in time for a glove to collide with his face. He was hit so hard he flipped. His aura disipated.

"And with that Mr Lafant is down for the count!" Oobleck said.

"What a humiliating way to go out too." Port said. "Very similar to his last match."

"Ooh but it looks like Mr Rudd is getting angry." Oobleck said.

Tor charged straight for Zann and Bronn. He removed one of his gloves. He ran his hand along Palendan, which burst into flames. He swung it between them. Zann pivoted out of the way. Bronn backed up. He began spinning around creating a whirlwind of flames around himself.

Bronn swung his hammer down on Rudd, who staggered back. He grabbed the flaming swordbreaker right out of his hands and tossed it. Rudd took off his other glove. His hands were ashy looking and dark with soot. If Arthur could see under that helmet he could have sworn he was smiling. Zann swung his glove at him. Toreth touched it and it burst into flames. Zann hopped up and down trying to take it off. Tor slapped his suit and watched it also burst into flames. Zann stopped, dropped and rolled immediately.

"What's this? Mr Rudd is depleting their aura, and their outfits." Oobleck said.

"I'm sure the ladies are loving this." Port said with a wink to the camera.

Bronn swung his hammer down. Arthur realized what was about to happen. Inside that hammer was the tank for his flamethrower. It is loaded with burn dust. If Rudd were to touch that hammer. Oh no.

Rudd raised his hand, the hammer collided with it. Rudd's aura depleted, his arm bent in a way it shouldn't. He dropped to the ground. Bronn raised his hammer back in shock, it was glowing.

"Watch out!" Arthur shouted.

Bronn turned only to realize what was about to happen. His hammer exploded in a massive eruption. He went flying out of the way and hit a wall. His aura depleted but he seemed otherwise fine. In fact, he started to laugh.

"Someone send paramedics to make sure Mr Rudd is okay." Oobleck said. Tor gave a thumbs up. "Well if he says so, let the match continue!"

Arthur turned to find Gabriel, Ricaro and Zann still standing. Zann was half naked and disarmed. He charged Gabriel from behind. Gabriel spun around. Ricaro came from behind. Gabriel leaned Galatine over his shoulder and launched a bolt blindly twoards Ricaro. It hit his jetpack and he dropped into a roll. He landed fine on his feet and began swinging his pata blades. Ricaro spun around and swung his glaive in his direction. He swung the shaft backwards towards Zann, who was hit square in the chest. Zann stumbled back and fell off the rock.

"And with that, Zann's aura is too low to compete!" Port boomed."Now the odds are even."

Blades came down fast and Gabriel barely blocked in time. Ricaro leaned towards him, putting all his weight on his blades. Gabriel knew exactly what to do. He kicked him right between the legs. Ricaro's eyes widened and he dropped to the ground.

"Ooh! Now that's what I call shattering!" Port shouted. "Ricaro's aura is dangerously low."

Gabriel was already waving at the audience. Arthur shook his head. He was always easily distracted. Arthur watched as Ricaro climbed back to his feet. One arm had a shield, the other a sword. He lunged. Gabriel spun around and swung his glaive down hard. Ricaro blocked with the shield and swung straight for the chest with his sword. Gabriel staggered and swung his glaive around. Ricaro blocked it with his blade, now a shield, his shield now a blade swung to the opposite side. He repeated this over and over again. Arthur watched as his aura was dropping dangerously low. This wasn't how it was supposed to go down.

"They're neck to neck!" Oobleck shouted.

"This has got to be one of the closest matches we've seen this festival!" Oobleck shouted. "What a match to end the team round!"

Gabriel stumbled to the edge of the rock. Twin swords were swinging towards him in a pincer strike. Gabriel swung. Whoever hit first would win. Arthur held his breath. Gabriel was swinging the heavier weapon, it was high over his head. Meanwhile the two swords were closing in fast. Arthur winced. Suddenly, a bubble erupted from Gabriel, both swords bounced off it. Ricaro leaned back, the glaive came down hard colliding with his head.

"He's down!" Oobleck shouted. "Ricaro Chrysos is down for the count!"

"Team ALGT has won!" Port called out. "Not to sound biased but team ALGT of Beacon has won the match and what a victory that was against tournament champions team BRNZ of Haven!"

"What a way to start the festival." Oobleck said. "I'm sure plenty of gamblers are making a killing tonight."

"I know I am." Port said. Oobleck stared at him. "I'm just kidding." He shook his head at the camera when Oobleck wasn't looking.

Paramedics checked out Tor's arm and found it to be fractured in three places. They set it and put it into a cast. They said he'd otherwise be okay. His gambit paid off and took out Bronn, who otherwise would have decimated Gabriel.

"You okay Rudd?" Bronn asked. "That was one hell of a dumb idea." Tor shrugged. "I like it. Good work. I'll have to rebuild my weapon now."

Team BRNZ complimented them and left the arena. Team ALGT took the moment to bask in the cheering crowd. They eventually had to leave the arena by order of Oobleck's booming voice. Ash and Billy came running their way.

"Congratulations!" They both said.

"Where's Morgy?" Arthur asked.

"We haven't seen here." Ash said. "She called a few hours ago and said she might miss the match."

"That's a shame." Arthur said. He felt a little bit disappointed.

"She said something important came up." Ash said. "Must be important, even Lyra went with her."

"Yeah, must be." Arthur said.