Chapter 8. A Lesson on Respect

(September 23, 2015)

Finally after many boring classes, including the quite speedy history lectures, time for dueling classes arrived. Team BRNZ was walking together when at the entrance to the amphitheater, they noticed Cardin Winchester and his team. They were pushing around a tender Faunus boy, two other people tried to help him, probably his team mates, but Team CRDL was making good job at preventing them from it.

Then Cardin noticed Bruin and Zelony, a vile smile appeared on his face.

"Oh," he cooed. "If it isn't the Log and his knight?"
"Oh," Zelony mimicked him. "If it isn't the convention of vultures? Taking advantage of your numbers? That's low, you know."
"That's a freak of nature, they don't belong in Beacon," squawked Russel.
"The only 'freaks' here at the moment are you four," Nicandra shot a sharp remark at the bullies. "And you dare call yourselves 'Hunters-in-training'? Shameful."
"L-Let him go," Bruin said from behind Zelony.
"Or what?" venomous sound of Cardin's voice ripped the air.
"How about you and I 'duking' it out during the combat classes?" Rouge offered.
"Seriously? A girl? No problem! But don't go crying when I turn your ass flat."
"Oh, don't worry. I'll put on a good fight, all right," she winked at Bruin who strangely felt his cheeks blush a bit.

Then Cardin ordered his companions to stop and follow him to the arena. Bruin approached the beaten Faunus boy and offered him a hand.

"Sorry, I couldn't be of more help."

The boy accepted his hand and stood up. He shook the dust of him. Team BRNZ took a closer look at the Faunus: he had bushy, shoulder-length, ashen hair, a thin tail, and very dark, grey pupils.

"Thanks," the boy replied. "My team mates were no match for them. We're too small compared to them to stand any real challenge." He then turned to his companions, "I'm sorry for the trouble."
"I'm Bruin," the leader of Team BRNZ introduced himself. "These are Rouge, Nicandra, and Zelony," he pointed at each of his team mates. "Who are you?"
"Pumpil Birch, from Team TOPE."
"Who is the leader?" Nicandra asked.
"Tangerina went with some other team to the arena way earlier than us."
"That squirrel Faunus?" Bruin asked.
"You know her?" Pumpil questioned.
"I met with her the other day, heah, but she wasn't exactly the friendliest of people."
"Your leader seems to be a free spirit, but that shouldn't excuse her from not attending to her team," Nicandra commented. She then looked at Bruin with a somewhat gracious expression and added, "But I suppose not everyone adapts quickly to such an important position."
"You should go to the infirmary so the nurse can take a look at your wounds," Zelony suggested. "Cardin and his band may be bullies, but their still Hunters-in-training. Wounds inflicted by them can be bad."
"Okay, I'll go."
"We'll vouch for you!" Bruin shouted at the receding images of Pumpil and his companions.

The team then entered the amphitheater and sat down in the front row. A few rows behind them sat Team PLTM and, what Bruin and Nicandra assumed, Team AZRE. Some other teams were there are as well, including Team CRDL which was sitting at the top of stands.

Few moments later Professor Goodwitch appeared in front of them at the arena. She was holding her Scroll tightly and scanning students, glaring from behind her glasses. Finally, her eyes stopped at some spot. Many people followed her eyes and, unsurprisingly for Team BRNZ, she was looking at Cardin and his team.

"Good afternoon," she welcomed the students with a rather cold voice. "First participant for today will be Mister Winchester."

The announcement results in Cardin laughing vilely and heading for the arena. Nicandra and Zelony glared daggers at him as he passed by them, walking proudly.

"What a pleasant coincidence," he said with a smug grin.
"Oh, you wanted to practice today in the first place, Mister Winchester?"
"And I already have an opponent on my mind."
"Who is it?"

Then Rouge appeared, carried by her wind spirit, Sylph. She had a dangerous smile on her face.

"Me."
"Miss Rhodolite, is it?" Professor Goodwitch asked as she looked through her Scroll. "I had you initially scheduled for the next week, but I can make amendments in the schedule. All right, please go to the armory and retrieve your weapons. I expect that five minutes should suffice."

Five minutes have passed and at the center of the arena stood Rouge and Cardin. The girl was holding her weapon in the sword mode in a rather loose pose. Cardin on the other hand was twirling his mace like a toy.

"The first person to have their Aura level hit the red zone is considered incapable of fight and consequently looses the match," the professor explained. "No mortal strikes are allowed. This is simply a training. Now, on the count of three you will engage in combat. One." Cardin laughed evilly once again. Rouge was simply smiling. "Two." Cardin assumed a battle-ready pose. Rouge was still standing still. "Three."

Cardin launched himself at Rouge and took a wide swing with his mace. The girl sidestepped and swung her weapon at the man's armored back. Cardin stumbled a bit, but quickly regained balance. Now he made a powerful downward swing with his weapon, a small fiery explosion bursting when the mace met with the ground. Taken by a surprise, Rouge was hit with the outburst. She quickly countered it by swinging her blade once again at her opponent creating a frigid arc in the air which collided with Cardin. His next action was a punch, followed with a strike from his mace which crashed against Rouge's sword, trapping its blade within the mace's crown. Thinking he would be able to disarm his opponent, he pulled his weapon but met with opposition. He looked at his weapon and noticed that it was tangled in whip crackling in electricity. The girl then yanked the weapon from his arm, leaving him barehanded, stunned, and mad.

He looked at her with madness in his eyes. He was never humiliated in such a way, especially by a girl. Clouded with anger, he threw himself at her and began a wild pummel. Despite her agility, Rouge barely evaded his attacks and scored a few bruises. Then she summoned the earth spirit, Gnome, who dropped onto the ground which cracked and released several stalagmites at Cardin.

Many people in the stands gasped. Rouge knew that sound. It was quite rare for a person to summon nature's manifestations and use them in combat.

"You wretched witch!" Cardin cussed and spit some blood from his mouth. "You'll pay for this!"

Rouge looked at the screen above the arena: Cardin's Aura gauge was in a dangerously low yellow area, but her gauge still showed a healthy amount of green. It was time to finish the battle. Besides, it was a total bore, not even a minor inconvenience.

"You're a real disappointment, you know that?" she said with honest worry in her voice. "How did you even get to Beacon?"

She smacked her whip against the floor, creating sparks which went straight at Cardin. Rouge changed her weapon into sword, still crackling with electricity, and run towards her opponent, blade drawing the ground.

When she was next to Cardin she said, "Well, I don't usually do this, but let's finish it with style."

And with those words she changed the Dust affinity in her weapon for ice, took a great spin. When the blade connected with Cardin, she activated the Dust and turned the man into a block of ice, who crashed into a faraway wall.

"Miss Rhodolite is the winner of the match," Professor Goodwitch concludes the match. "Although I'd appreciate if you would minimize the damage to your surroundings." The teacher then flicked her weapon, a riding crop, and the destroyed wall was redone anew. "Mister Winchester, I suggest controlling your emotions: even a slightest slip may bore disastrous results, especially during a battle against Grimm."

The other members of Cardin's team quickly appeared at his side and together dragged out their ice-encased leader. As Rouge was walking towards her team, she was met with bravos; Bruin was especially into it.

"Now then, another match shall begin shortly. Since I'm feeling generous today I'm willing to accept volunteers for the next match. Is there—?" Proffesor's question was interrupted by two voices.
"I, Professor!"
"Me."

Everyone turned to the source of the sound: Larimar and Pearl. The boy was glaring daggers at the girl, but she didn't seem to mind.

"Mister Mikulio and Miss Ivar, correct?" the two nodded. "Well then, please prepare your combat gear. You have five minutes."

Sure enough Larimar and Pearl were standing at the arena less then four minutes later. The boy was holding his dualblade in his right hand behind him, slightly crouched, already waiting for the battle's start. The girl on the other hand was punching her fists and digging her legs into the ground.

"Same condition as in the previous battle apply. On the count of three. One." Larimar twirled his dualblade. Pearl punched air. "Two." Larimar readied himself, right arm stretching behind him, left arm close to his chest. Pearl opened up her arms, arms hanging law, although claws facing her opponent. "Three."

The two lunged at each other simultaneously. As Larimar thrust his weapon at his opponent, Pearl blocked the attack with an uppercut and swiftly followed it with a series of wide swipes. Initially taken by surprise, the boy quickly switched his tactics for defensive ones and twirled his dualblade in front of him, using it as a shield.

Pearl then leaped out of his reach and run towards the edge of the arena. Several students wondered what she was doing. Even Professor Goodwitch was thinking out load. Then the fox Faunus stepped on the convex rim of the arena and much to everyone's surprise started to slide on it. Larimar released a sound of astonishment, but soon caught up with Pearl. Well, at least he tried. She was too fast for him. As he was quickly coming up with a plan, the girl suddenly leaped onto him, releasing a series quick claw swipes and finished the combo with a powerful upward kick. Despite catching him by a surprise, Larimar quickly recovered midair. He bent his dualblade, revealing a string and drew three arrows with blue tips from his quiver and put them on the grip. As he released the arrows, now coated in water, they were flying at the ground nowhere close to his opponent. When they hit the ground, they exploded and covered the floor with water. The boy then landed in the middle, pointing his weapon at Pearl.

"Decent Semblance, I admit. But if I were you, I'd surrender," he said.

Bruin looked at the screen: both Larimar and Pearl's Aura levels were still in green, although the boy's was lower then his opponent's.

The girl didn't answer. Instead, she charged right at him. Larimar activated his Semblance: a wave started to chase his opponent. As Pearl closed distance with him, the boy drew a regular arrow from his quiver and aimed at her. Just when he was about to release it, he suddenly fell: apparently his leader slid on the water at the last second and tripped him. Pearl quickly unleashed an assault of kicks combined with punches. In between her strikes, Larimar found a window of opportunity and manipulated the water which erupted in a sprout, launching him into the air. Taken by surprise, Pearl didn't notice her opponent falling upon her with his weapon held high above him in his hands. As he struck her, it cleaved the water in two causing decent waves to launch at the sides.

Larimar leaped back as Pearl was massaging her arm. She had a crossed look on her face, while her opponent was looking down at her. Then he pointed his left arm at the ground and the water started to gather in place. As the water built up, it created a massive water sprout which violently shook. Quick look at the screen told Pearl that both of their Aura levels were in dangerously low, yellow levels.

"You put up a decent fight, but it ends now."

As Larimar said that he released the watery tornado straight at his opponent. Pearl quickly rushed on a side and started to slide on the arena's rim once again, circling around her rival and his creation. Annoyed, Larimar started to shoot a mix of his regular and water arrows at her, but her Semblance reflexes were too fast for him and he merely shoot them at the water spout. When he was about to charge at her, suddenly felt pain in his guts and he merely noticed Pearl's annoyed face as he was flying away from her. As suddenly as his team leader sent him flying, as abruptly he found himself within the tornado.

Yet again much to Professor Goodwitch and the other spectators' surprise, she leaped into the sprout.

"She's crazy!" shouted Maize.
"Or very skilled," muttered the professor under her breath.

Pearl slid up within the tornado and in few seconds was at the same height as her team member. He wanted to attack her, but without his weapon he was powerless. The girl then rushed at him, leaped over him, and performing a powerful stomp with her legs. Larimar crashed hard against the stone floor and as he did the water sprout dissipated as well. Pearl landed on all fours, but quickly fell to her feet.

Professor Goodwitch at her Scroll: it appeared that the both students reached the red zone in her Aura gauges at the same time.

"The battle is considered a draw," she announced. "Both participants' Aura levels reached the critical zone concurrently. Now, Mister Sophie and Mister Guy, please take your partners to the infirmary, they've taken quite a hit."

Maize cautiously approached Pearl and helped her up, while Thistle quite vigorously took Larimar on a piggyback ride and happily skidded away.

"Weird fellow, that one," commented Bruin.
"Who isn't?" Zelony winked at him. "Like I'm a bit into fashion. Who would think a guy would care about his looks, right?"
Nicandra looked at the boy with a questioning look, "You look like you actually don't care."
"I'm just into a different branch of fashion, Miss Office."

Nicandra growled at him, earning laughs from Zelony and Rouge.

Few more training battles happened and nearly an hour later the classes were finished. The three members of Team TOPE didn't arrive. Professor Goodwitch marked their absences and reprimanded Tangerina about her role as the team leader.

The squirrel Faunus caught up with Team BRNZ. She intended to find out the reason why her team mates didn't come.

"Hey, um, Bruin, was it?"
"It's you," he simply answered.
"Oh, yeah, it's me," she replied sarcastically. "Tell me, what happened to my team mates? You seem to know more than you told Goodwitch."
"A convention of vultures," replied Zelony. "They were picking on, what was his name?"
"Pumpil," Nicandra helped him out. "Then again, the other two didn't appear be able to take on Cardin and his companions."
"No offense, but all your team seems kinda short compared to other teams," Bruin commented.
"Hey you! Not everyone can grow tall! Genetics and all," Tangerina said the last sentence with sadness filling her voice. "Cardin, that prick!"
"He should have learned his lesson now," Rouge sang. "But seriously though, he's such a pushover."
"I'll better go see how Pumpil is doing. Thanks for standing in his defense," she replied shyly and ran for the infirmary.

Nicandra shook her head. What was with Professor Ozpin this year? Most of his choices regarding team leaders seemed favor people with no idea how important and influential their role was.

She was then poked at her side by Rouge and her smirk. Their team was going to the cafeteria and have dinner. As Bruin disappeared behind the grand entrance door, Zelony was waving at the girl from the distance. They picked up on speed and soon joined him and their leader on the meal. She hoped to suggest some team bonding activities for the weekend so they could get to know each other better.

What the weekend would bring, she would never expect how much could happen in two days and a half.

Author's Notes

Ha! I guess you weren't suspecting an update so soon! It just happened that I was on a real roll. ;) Sadly, no crossover cameos today.

Before you ask: Pearl's Semblance is Flowmotion (yes, I shamefully grabbed an idea from Kingdom Hearts but it seemed so appropiate for her fighting style). Actually, I'm still not sure if I made the right choice, but oh well, could be worse (or better!).

I thought about recommeding some tracks to listen to for the fights, but I couldn't really think of anything fitting, all I could think about was Bayonetta but hardly anything was fitting. OTL

What weekend activities to give them? Only time will tell. :P