Hey, sorry about the lateness of the hour but I got done with some of my homework. I still have a lot to do but I need a break. Also I just realized that based on RWBY volume 1 I'm getting closer to the end. I need to start thinking about how I'm going to play the next few chapters because I don't want to clash with the cannon story line of RWBY, this is story that runs parallel to the main characters. All that aside, here is a chapter.

Chapter 12: Rejection

I woke the next morning to Velvet already gone. It was Friday and I was eager to visit Shay again. I felt energized as I went through my morning routine and headed to combat practice. I was the first one there. The room was dark and I checked the time. Stupid, you're an hour early.

I sighed and climbed onto the elevated platform that was the arena and waited in the dark. The door had closed behind me and Glynda wasn't even here yet. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face if it wasn't for my semblance.

I looked around the big room looking for something that could potentially occupy me for an hour. Nothing. When the room didn't have people using it to fight it was basically just a large empty room. No training dummies or anything.

I felt the strange feeling in my back again and forced my aura into my wings, using the nerves and feeling them relax as the manipulated the circuits in the wings. It felt good to have them open. I wanted to use this time to fly around the room. I hadn't gotten to in a week and was starting to feel uncomfortable, always being on the ground.

I waited for what felt like half an hour, but after checking my scroll was only ten minutes. I need to do something, Oh. I stood up as I remembered the idea I had had shortly after initiation but had never actually had time to put into practice. Folding my wings around me and touched them to my fists and took a fighting stance.

Working through the motions that Velvet had taught me I did my best to keep my wings attached to the backs of my hands. If I can turn them into extensions of my fists like Velvet does with her fans then maybe I can convince Ozpin to let me unfurl them more often. I continued like that until it was time for class. Picking up the spin and throwing in some unorthodox strikes. It took me a while to match my wings to my fists as well as I wanted to, but by the time Glynda arrived to get everything in order for the class that started in ten minutes, I more or less had it down to a science.

It was a close call; she entered through the door and cast light into the room momentarily. In the few seconds it took her to flip on the lights I sat down and folded my wings back over my body. Glynda flipped the switch and was looking right at.

"What are you doing here so early, Ike?" she asked with slight conviction in her voice.

I mentally slapped myself in the face; she must have at least caught a glimpse of me with my wings open. But maybe… "Nothing, I just got here a little while ago. I thought about doing something for a few more minutes, but what is there to do around here. My leader is in class and there isn't anything close enough that would warrant me to leave and come back later. So I just came in here and have been waiting."

She eyed me through narrowed eyes and I kept my face neutral. Sometimes I'm glad that I adopted my father's neutral expression so well, it comes in handy sometimes. It seemed like a minute that we sat there staring at each other before the doors opened again and people started entering.

Glynda broke her gaze and went about her business as if everything was normal. I waited on the platform until I saw the person I so wanted to see walk through those doors. When he finally did I stood and walked straight up to him, I walked past him and spoke just loud enough for him to hear.

"First match, get on the stage. I want to see how strong you are. I'm sure your itching to fight a descent opponent after your match with Juane the other day." I spoke with a tempting voice, keeping the venom and hatred out.

He stopped and looked back at me. "Ya, I am." He narrowed his eyes at me before he continued. "Besides I still owe you for what you did during initiation." His words were laced with venom. I grinned and went to where I usually hung out when I wasn't on the platform.

When class finally started and Glynda asked if there was anyone who wanted to spar in the arena I immediately raised my hand and walked forward. I walked right past Cardin and shot him a quick glance.

I got onto the stage and stood on one side of Goodwitch, "Very good, Ike. And who is his challenger?" she looked out over the crowd for a moment. Cardin took a step forward but someone else beat him to it. I cursed Cardin for waiting and faced my challenger, almost forgetting about my dislike for Cardin as I saw a tall Golden armored girl with red hair and sash standing across from me.

"Alright Ike and Pyrra Nikos," She reached out with her hand and I took it immediately. I smiled at her as she dropped my hand and drew her weapon. I drew mine and stood ready waiting for Glynda to start us. "You may begin."

Pyrra shot forward, instantly covering the ground between us and attacking me with her weapon in its sword form. I blocked and struck back but was parried by her shield. She was faster than anyone I had fought so far and was far more skilled. Her sword wasn't her only form of attack either. She used her shield in tandem with her sword. I had to dodge those attacks because from what I had seen they had a tendency to be far stronger than anything she could do with her weapon.

She went for another shield bash and I jumped back, avoiding the attack and flinging one of my knives at her. She blocked it easily, putting her shield in the way. I noticed the tip of her sword spin behind her. I cast my awareness behind her for a moment and saw the tail of the sword extend into the spear. In the few short moments it took me to stabilize myself after my dodge she moved her shield and launched her spear at me.

A gun shot rang out and before I could make my body move out of the way, the spear had hit my armor and knocked me off balance. If I hadn't had my aura reinforcing my wings her spear would have pierced right through me.

I spun with the blow and focused on Pyrra, who charged me while my back was turned and was on me by the time I was right way around to face her. Attacking with her shield she transferred her forward momentum into her arm, planting herself into her stance again.

This girl is crazy. Three year champion and here I am fighting her… I am going to enjoy this. I slipped into recklessness as I dodged sideways and grabbed her arm and stepping under her guard, lifting her over my shoulder, to slam her down again. But instead of resistance that would have allowed me to just flip her I felt ease.

She had jumped and yanked her arm free, releasing her shield as she flipped away from me and launching it at me. I managed to deflect it with the one of my knives, and charged her. She had her eyes on me but one of her hands was backwards. I cast my awareness behind her and saw her spear shoot into her hand.

She managed to take hold of it and put it in the way of my strike as I got to her, delivering a quick kick to my chest to force me away before using the length of her spear to her advantage and thrusting it forward. I parried that and stood just out of her range, waiting for her next attack.

We stood for a moment eyeing each other before I realized something. If she can make her spear jump into her hand, then- I didn't finish the thought. I cast my awareness behind me and ducked, barely avoiding her shield as it rushed over my head and Pyrra caught it, reattaching it to her arm band.

I righted myself and stared into her eye. "That was a bit closer than I would have referred it to be." I said getting back into my stance. She grinned slightly.

"I'm sorry, next time I'll be sure not to worry you." She said. She was totally in her element. 'This was going to be a tough fight' was an understatement. I took a quick glance at my aura gauge, focusing my awareness on Pyrra. A quarter of the way gone, I need to start landing hits otherwise it's going to come down to a game of who can outlast who. I don't think I'll win either of those games.

I put away my scroll and charged Pyrra. I tossed a knife into the air weakly to hopefully draw her attention, even for a moment. I got my wish. In the moment she had looked at the knife in the air I threw my final one and caught her in the stomach before she could put her shield in the way. As I reached her I caught the one I had thrown into the air and attacked with it.

She blocked that attack with her spear and bashed me with her shield, once again forcing me away and following with a swift strike with her spear. I grabbed hold of the end of her spear and rolled around the attack and stepped to her attacking again from her right side. I went for a high strike and she ducked beneath it dropping her spear and slamming the edge of her shield into my chest.

I took the blow and grabbed her shield as she retracted her arm. You're not forcing me away this time. I was forced back and landed a solid back hand stab to her core, her aura surging to block the attack. I had aimed for her chest but was so off balance that my strikes were sloppy. She winced slightly but shoved her arm forward again, pounding into my chest again. This time she disconnected her shield I stumbled backwards.

I focused my awareness on her and saw her kick her spear into her hand and I knew it was probably over. Yup. Before I could regain my balance she launched her spear forward at me again, catching me in the chest. I was thrown off my feet and landed on my back. I gasped and sucked in breath. Between two powerful shield bashes and an even more powerful spear throw, my aura was in the yellow. I waited for her to retrieve her shield and spear as she approached before putting in one final effort.

I flipped to my feet picking up the first knife, taking the two I had in my hands and putting them down my sleeves, the blades protruded over my knuckles and forcing aura into my wings. I doubt this is a good idea but it's the last idea I have. Making a motion to look like I was peeling my armor and attaching them to the back of my hands, I heard gasps from the crowd and Pyrra stopped to watch what I was doing.

I stood ready for a moment to focus and rushed forward again. I used my wings as blunt weapons as they added about a foot to my reach, swinging them like blades, to maximize the force behind each strike. When she took a step back and flipped her spear around, transforming it into rifle and crouching down, resting her shield on her leg and poking the rifle through the carved out portion.

Thinking quickly I also crouched and folded my wings around me as a shield. Pyrra fired a few rounds that deflected off my wings. When she stopped I charged forward, still with them in front of me. I watched her change her rifle into a sword and stand as I approached. I spread my wings and leaned as far forward as I could before shooting my fire dust bombs.

Once again surprised, Pyrra rolled to the side and crouched behind her shield. My first volley slammed into her the ground where she had been and the second exploded against her shield. I couldn't tell if I did any damage as I rushed in and tackled her as she stood up, she rolled with it and as we hit the ground, managed to break free.

She was on her feet before me and slammed her sword into my back as I got to my feet, right on the connection point on my back. My adrenaline was pumping so I didn't feel the pain as much as I would have and rolled away, getting to my feet. But the moment I was balanced Pyrra's shield slammed into my unprotected chest and with all the force of her momentum from covering the distance between us.

I was launched fifteen feet straight backwards before hitting the ground and rolling to a stop, completely limp. I struggled for breath as pain lanced through my chest and back. My adrenaline didn't take the edge of the pain anymore. I could see the large screens that displayed our aura gauges. Mine was nearly depleted, and Pyrra's had reached half, most likely from the area damage from the fire bombs. Pyrra walked up to me and held her spear in my face as a mock finisher and the buzzer sounded.

I tried to get to my feet but didn't have the strength to lift myself off my hands and knees. Pyrra immediately helped me up and off the stage. My wings hung limply and I quickly replaced them over my chest with my hands to maintain the façade that they were magnetic. Sheathing both of my knives and looking at my third across the floor. Juane quickly retrieved it and brought it to me.

"Thanks Juane." I said as he took my other arm and helped me down the stairs with Pyrra.

"Take him to his room to rest. Ike, I'll excuse you from the rest of your classes today so you can heal. Very well fought and congratulations to our two combatants." I didn't hear the rest as we left the room and headed to my dorm. By the time we made it the hallway I was able to walk again and thanked them as I went into my dorm and collapsed on my bed.

I reflected on the battle as I lay there on my side. Despite the fact that I hadn't taught Cardin a lesson I really enjoyed the fight with Pyrra. She was the best fighter I had fought so far and was thoroughly happy with how well it had gone. I may have lost but I had done well despite the fact that I couldn't fly and I had found a way to use my wings. As long as I didn't have Ozpin nagging at me later it would be fine. That was my last thought before I passed out till morning.

There was a problem when I woke; intense pain in my back that scared Velvet nearly to death. I rolled off my bed and yelled, reaching around and clutching at my back. Velvet had just gotten out of the shower and, not expecting me to be awake, was only in her under wear. She quickly rushed to my side.

"Ike, what's wrong. She put her hand on my back and immediately withdrew it as I yelped in pain.

"Nnnnrrr, get. Ozpin." I growled through the pain at Velvet. She nodded and grabbed her scroll and searched for Ozpin.

"I don't have him on my messenger," she dropped her scroll and took mine, looking into it and calling for Ozpin. "Professor Ozpin, Ike is having a problem with his wings. I don't know what to do."

She sent it and came back to my side. I forced aura into my wings and tried to move them. it decreased the pain slightly but it was still enough to keep me on the ground. We stayed like that for a while. Velvet had gone to the bathroom to get a wet washcloth out of panic and pressed it against my back gently. It was cold so it didn't hurt too badly.

Finally Ozpin opened the door and a pair of white cloaked doctors rushed into the room with a stretcher. Ozpin stood just inside the room and out of the way of the door, watching as Velvet moved out of the way and the doctors laid me out on the stretcher. They gave me a quick shot and within moments I was out again.

Epic battle with Pyrra! Loving it and its time for me to get back to work on my homework… NAH. I'm going to bed, homework can wait. Let me know what you guys think, Likes and dislikes, concerns of Phobias and I'll see you guys in the next chapter. Eternal out.