~Rikku~

While Shiva and Ammy were having their discussion, I was growing bored. Just sitting in the room alone was not fun, and school work doesn't help. I hadn't gotten to spar yet or do anything combat related sense initiation. And, I was getting a bit ancy to do something exciting. So I got to thinking, for some of the team meetings that Ammy gets together, we could go spar instead. I mean it would get to know each other as well, so it would still be bonding. Just in a different way. That thought was enough to keep me occupied until Ammy returned.

"Oh. Hey Ammy, glad to see you made it back," I greeted her as she returned to the room.

This earned an eyebrow raised with her reply, "why would I not make it back?" Stopping in the center of the room for my reply.

"Well, I have seen Shiva around dust before, and she gets very into it. I wasn't sure how she would react when you use it too. And, make it yourself no less!" My excitement getting the better of me, because the way Shiva talked about it earlier made what Ammy does seem really cool.

Ammy on the other hand seemed rather subdued, and her ear was twitching like when she was thinking too hard. And when she spoke, she sounded rather tired, "no need to worry, she was actually very helpful."

I nodded vigorously in agreement, "yeah! She can be really interesting when, you know, she is awake."

We chuckled a bit before Ammy began speaking again, "I am rather tired though. I am going to sleep shortly."

"Alright," I answered, then figured I'd ask about what I thought of real quick. "Hey Ammy, I had an idea for another way for us to get to know each other."

She paused while gathering her sleep wear, "hm? What would that be then?"

"Well I thought that we could spar with each other. That way we would be able to work better as a team, and when we fight together. And of course, we could still talk and stuff, I just thought it would be a good idea." I tried not to get nervous, but the serious stare she has made it feel like I was being an idiot.

Of course my nervousness was unfounded as Ammy replied, "that is a good idea. It crossed my mind too, so I am pleased you had the same idea. But, for now I am going to sleep. We can tell the other two tomorrow."

Her compliment lifted my mood, "right! I will make sure they have fun!"

Ammy grinned and shook her head, "you will also have to finish your work as well." Pointing to my school supplies on my bed as she passed on the way to the bathroom. Which I just groaned in response and picked my work up again.

x

The next Friday, the ladies of team AMRN gathered into a training room. All prepped with our favored combat attire. We were doing a check of our gear and chatting.

"I am surprised that Red didn't want to come. He always seemed to be the most into fighting," I thought out loud.

"He just had other work to do. Otherwise I am sure he would not mind participating," Ammy clarified while securing her shield.

But, I had a thought that has been bothering me, "you sure that's it. I mean, I trust your word and all. But, do you think that the fact that he doesn't have a weapon has anything to do with it?"

Ammy paused to think before answering, "it has not seemed to slow him down during combat training. However, I cannot read his mind on the matter. Have you tried asking him about it?"

"Yeah. But, he just blew me off. So I guess he is ok about it. If it were me though, I would have a difficult time," I admitted. "I guess I just wanted an excuse to make something cool."

This got Shiva to cut in, "what do you mean?"

My surprise at her sudden addition to the conversation was showing, "huh? Oh! I had some weapon ideas that would be really awesome for someone like Red."

The surprise was passed to Ammy this time, "you create weapons?"

"Yeah I do," I replied not hiding my pride. "My Kaiser Knuckles here are what you would call, my Magnum Opus." Lifting up my fists, showing off my gauntlets. "But, I could still make something really good for him."

"That is rather impressive," Shiva complimented. "Not only your skill, but how you want to help out Red." I just scratched my head, hoping they wouldn't notice my blush. "I am also impressed you know that term," grinning at me while she teased.

I turned away and crossed my arms, maybe with a little pout too. When Ammy interjected, "that does sound like a good idea actually." I looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she clarified, "it would seem like something he would appreciate. Perhaps if you could show him on paper he would be more open to the idea, so he can see what you mean."

I was tapping a metal finger on my chin while I processed the idea, "yeah, I could do that. But, if he doesn't accept that, then he really won't want it."

"Either way, I think it would be worth a try," Ammy reassured me. "However that can wait, we cannot stay here all night."

"Right! So let's get started!" I said excitedly and I moved to the center of the arena. "Who wants to go down first?" I challenged my teammates with zero maliciousness. As an answer, Shiva just rolled her eyes and gestured for Ammy to go first. Which Ammy accepted with a nod and a small smile at our antics.

~Ammy~

The time spent with the two was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Even sparring was more entertaining than usual. Though after the first bout with Rikku, I opted out of a match with Shiva to return to the room. There were some things I need to catch up on after the last couple of afternoons spent with my teammates. I did watch the beginning of their match while I gathered my things to change back into. Shiva was using ice dust to combat Rikku's multipurpose gauntlets. Those things were definitely surprising seeing as the looked like the belonged in a scrap pile. The outer metal was rough with patches of flaking paint, but the mechanics seemed very fluid. Her machine guns did not jam, she also had a flat blade that were hidden inside each along her forearms, and even a small harpoon and wire that could shoot out from underneath.

I was walking back across campus thinking about this afternoon, and how to make sure that Red would accept Rikku's offer. When walking past the courtyard I heard other students approaching from a different part of the academy. This in itself was nothing special, but what was a problem was who they were, and they seemed to be looking for me. "Just the thing I was looking for," said a familiar male voice. "I've been meaning to teach this bitch a lesson."

I turned to face the two approaching me, as they entered the courtyard through the nearby building's archway. It was the familiar pair that have been causing trouble sense day one. The green haired boy and his shadow, though this time they seemed different. The green haired one seemed furious, which was not that odd, but his brunette companion looked very nervous. "Hey man I don't think this is a good idea," he whispered to his leader, though I could still hear him.

The green haired guy rounded on him and shouted, "what!? You think this animal should be allowed to get away with this?" pointing to me.

He tried to placate his angry friend, holding up his hands, "h-hey, I didn't mean it that way. It's just..."

"Just what?!"

The brown haired guy was trying hard not to look terrified, but was failing, "i-it's just that we could get into serious trouble. And, shes not worth getting kicked out, y'know?"

"So you're on her side then," the green haired one was no longer shouting, but his menace seemed to deepen.

"W-what! No, I just don't think this is a good idea," the other tried reasoning.

"Whatever, I don't want to know why you are with that slut. But, I won't forgive you becoming a traitor," with that he punched his companion hard enough to send him into the archway's pillar. Hitting with an unsettling crack, and slumping to the ground unconscious. "Now that he's out of the way, I need to take care of the real problem," stalking towards me with as much malice as he could manage.

I knew that there was something wrong with him, but not to this extent. And, it seems his strength as somehow increased almost overnight. I would not allow him to continue with whatever it was he intended to, and drew up a glyph. I activated it and multiple vines snaked their way across the ground and around his body before he could notice them through the evenings gloom. While he was wrapped up, I pulled out my phone and called up Rikku as she was with Shiva and near her gear, if not still in it. She picked up after a coupe rings and noticed the green haired boy grinning. "Hey Ammy. What's up?" she chirped on the phone.

Before I could answer, the vines wrapped around the guy caught fire. "I need you and Shiva in the courtyard now! And, call Red on the way."

The flames turned the vines to charcoal and he shook them off. He was unharmed though, so setting things on fire may be his semblance. "What's going on?" Rikku asked in my ear with noticeable worry.

"Just get here with your weapons ready!" I yelled just before he lunged at me. I dropped the phone to dodge a flaming fist aimed at my face.

"No one can help you, filthy animal!" He shouted and continued his assault. I kept retreating away from his punches as I could not do much else. "Not so good without your sword are ya?" he grinned at my inability to counter. But he was not wrong, and I could only dodge for so long before a fist connected to my stomach, knocking the wind out of me, and sending me to the edge of the courtyard.

I got back on my feet as fast as I could. Just in time for another fist to slam into my cheek, laying me flat again. This time he was too close for me to get on my feet and he knew it too. Standing over me grinning and cracking his knuckles. I tried to create another glyph while he gloated silently, but was out of dust from sparring. So as he lifted his leg to kick me, I could only think of a way to try and minimize the damage. As I was bracing for the impact, he disappeared and was replaced by a short blond.

I let out sigh of relief, as Rikku charged forward out of my line of sight to chase after the man. Someone else placed a hand on my shoulder, "you alright?" Shiva asked, looking me over.

"I will be, but you need to help subdue him," waving over to where the fighting was.

She nodded and ran to help out her partner. I sat myself up to make sure those two had everything under control, ignoring the pain and dizziness I felt. Rikku was fighting up close, using her blades to her advantage against the unarmed man. While Shiva would send daggers of ice at him whenever he was left open. These attacks were not slowing him down much however. Which was outrageous as the team attacks were hitting hard. Rikku and Shiva noticed this as well, when Rikku broke away and Shiva upped her dust attacks.

Shiva pulled out an uncut dust crystal out from the punch on her hip, and held it in her palm just in front of her face. The man noticed the change in tactics, and looked to Shiva to see what was happening. She blew on the crystal, creating a large plume of snow, covering the entire area in front of her. The man seem unfazed and began to stalk toward her. Shiva just raised her free hand and snapped her fingers. All the snow she created solidified and expanded, creating a huge, solid mass of ice that reached up to the man's neck. Shiva seemed pleased with this, but did not know his semblance. Which he activated and began to melt the ice. Shiva was clearly upset by his resistance, but before she could act Rikku jumped up onto the sheet of ice and slid to his exposed head. Rikku brought down her gauntlet hard, right onto his temple. She did not stop there as she sent a stream of sparks from the metal into his face, causing his to convulse as much as the ice would allow. This time the green haired guy did not continue to struggle, as his head dropped forward.

"What the heck was that," Rikku said panting now that he stopped moving. "I mean last time Ammy took him no problem. But, this time it took everything we had."

I hoisted myself up, and made my way over to Shiva, "I am glad I called you then. And even more so, that you two got here so quickly."

Rikku looked over and gave me a thumbs up and a grin, "of course. We got your back teammate."

Shiva added in her concern, "are you alright though? You were in a bad spot when we got here."

"I am fine Shiva. My aura held up, so at the worst I will only get a couple bruises. Though without the help from you two I would be much worse," giving them my honest thanks.

Rikku jumped down from the ice next to us, "like I said, we got your back. But, what are we going to do with the angry popsicle?" pointing at the frozen man.

Shiva gave the obvious answer, "we should get one of the professors. They will know how to deal with him."

This was something I was hoping to avoid, but with how much it escalated, it would be impossible to keep it quiet. Before I could agree however, there was a new arrival. "What the hell?" We all turned to see Red catching his breath in the archway near the still unconscious brown haired boy.

And before we could answer him another new voice cut in, "what has happened here?!" We turned to see professor Goodwitch entering the courtyard from where Rikku and Shiva arrived. "Well? Any of you care to explain?" she demanded while striding toward us. I just sighed, knowing this was going to be a long night.