Hey everyone. Sorry it's been a week since I last uploaded. I had a lot of work I had to do for school. Between two presentations that I still haven't finished and a test before the sun came up, I was left exhausted and couldn't be bothered to do anything but sleep. But I'm back in my biorhythm so ill right chapters for you guys this weekend to try to make up for it.

Chapter 20: Will to Fight

Velvet stood in front of me with her fans in her hands. She didn't take her eyes off of Pyrra as she spoke to me. "Get up. You're not going to lose this fight again." I was frozen for a moment as I looked up at her. The fading sunlight gleamed off her armor and nearly silhouetted her against the sky.

For another second I lay confused but finally rose to my feet and stood beside Velvet. I felt my mind clear in that moment, the familiar sense of letting my body move on instinct returned. "Sorry, I must have looked pretty ridiculous just then." She nodded and changed from a defensive stance to an offensive one.

I noticed Velvet rock back slightly before launching herself forward towards Pyrra. She didn't throw her fans this as she charged, refereeing to keep them in hand against the more experienced fighter. I lunged with her and stayed just behind her as we approached. We covered the distance in a second and I split out from behind her, moving to Pyrra's left.

I saw Pyrra's eyes dart to the side momentarily as I hit the deck and tried to swipe her legs out from under her. Velvet struck high, her fans in hand to add reach and a sharp edge. I picked up something heading our way as a sprint, but didn't take my eyes off of Pyrra. Who is running towards a fight, they better not intervene?

"Pyrra take, Ike." I heard a familiar voice say as it approached. it was to late, I hit Pyrra's legs out from under her and stood up to confirm the newcomer. Sure enough it was Juane. He jumped into the air and slammed himself against Velvet, shield first, forcing her away from me and Pyrra. Immediately I returned my attention back to my target and struck at her with a thrust of my staff. She blocked with her shield and rolled away before standing up to face me.

I heard the thuds and clangs as Juane and Velvet started fighting back and forth. Stop. Focus on Pyrra. Block out everything else. I told myself before taking a deep breath and concentrating my awareness on the golden armored red head in front of me. Before I could attack she spoke.

"Glad to see that Juane pulled it off. I thought I was really going to have to hurt you." I looked up at her and she was grinning slightly. "We saw Velvet on the roof as we were heading down from training and after seeing you in the hall, we decided that we would try to help you."

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. "When did you decide that, you guys didn't walk away and discuss things after you saw me?" then I remembered her nodding to him and grinned slightly. "So you two have become close enough to decipher each other's meanings without speaking. That also explains how he became such a good fighter in such a short period of time." I leveled my staff in my hands and took my stance. "I appreciate your help, but now that she is here I can't lose to you."

Pyrra also took her stance and waited for me to attack. "Well you haven't beaten me yet, and I don't intend to let you win." We both grinned at that and I we both lunged.

Chaos broke out between us. Strikes flashed back and forth as we exchanged attacks. My staff bashed against her shield and bounced off before I spun it around my body and deflected her attack. I kept her at a great enough distance that she couldn't shield bash me without extending herself beyond her reach or moving towards me and giving me a chance to move and attack her back.

I dance around and dodged some of her attacks and get behind her, but as always she was a solid wall. She didn't move her feet unless it was to add force to her strike or keep me in front of her. It was like every other battle we had had but into one. I used everything I could think of and eventually hits started being exchanged.

It started with me as she thruster her spear forward, I pushed it aside but before I could counterattack she had pulled her hand back and thrust forward again. I was push backwards and off balance, she took that opportunity and took a few steps forward and continued her attack. I lifted my staff to try to defend myself but her shield slammed into me and forced the two halves apart and throwing me to the ground.

I ragged dolled to the ground and used the momentum to roll backwards up onto my feet and flung the segment in my left hand at her to keep her away so I could get back on balance. It banged against her shield, as she charged not so much as slowing her down as she continued to charge. Damn it.

I felt my temper rise as I peeled my left wing away from my body with a hand motion and used it to shield myself against Pyrra's oncoming attacks. I couldn't orient myself fast enough so I focused on her with my senses.

She leapt in the air and stabbed down at me. I put my wing in the way and felt her strike impact against it. It only added to my backwards momentum and I was on the verge of losing my balance when I quickly changed my position from defending against her strike to gripping her spear in my hand. As I fell she did as well, taken by surprise by my new tactic. I hit the ground and rag dolled until I heard her hit the ground before trying to stand again.

This time I was able to get my balance as we stood and faced each other. I was in her range but out of mine and she exploited that, once again thrusting her spear forward. I deflected it with my wing and got closer to attack, bringing my staff segment down on her shield with all of my forward momentum behind the strike.

Pyrra put her shield in the way and completely parried the attack, following up quickly with a thrust from her spear. I had anticipated her and moved my wing to move the strike away before striking at her core. My attack landed and I heard a surprised gasp as I hit her with an upper cut to her stomach. I followed up with a sweep of my staff segment that knocked her feet from under her and finished with a spinning kick, sending her through the air a good five feet.

As soon as both my feet were on the floor I rushed forward, scooping up the other half of my staff as I passed it. Pyrra rolled to a kneeling position behind her shield before I reached her, her spear was in its rifle form and she unloaded three shots, all of which hit me in the chest were my left wing normally covered. My aura flared to protect me but I felt them as impacted.

By the time I reached her she had her spear back and thrust it forward at me with great power. I saw it coming at the last minute and jumped over her head, flipping and trying to strike her back with both halves of my staff. I have you now. I thought to myself as I flipped. But it was just that, a thought.

The golden warrior saw me jump and immediately rolled forward with the momentum of her strike, easily dodging my attack. I focused my awareness on her and saw her get to her feet, spin around, and launch her spear at me, a single bullet added to its already ridiculous momentum. I didn't even hit the ground before I felt it slam into my back and carry me forward.

I didn't realize how much force had been put into the throw until I ran into Velvet who was fighting Juane. Finally my momentum broke and I collapsed beside her. Pyrra's spear didn't even hit the ground as she used her semblance to recall it to her hand.

I lay stunned after that. Pain raked up my back and I'm pretty sure ii could feel blood soaking my black jacket. I heard Pyrra's footsteps as she approached and stood beside a slightly shocked Juane. "Pyrra, I thought we were just sparring, not trying to kill them."

My awareness was still on Pyrra and I saw her shrug to her leader. "For him, that was sparring." I saw Juane try to argue but Pyrra cut him off. "Juane, Ike is the type of person who doesn't run from battles. In fact he lives for them, that is how he learns."

Velvet was over me now, looking down at me to see if I was okay. She noticed the blood stain and immediately put her hand on my back. "Ike, your bleeding." I looked up at her wearily. I wasn't looking at my aura gauge on my scroll, but I would guess it was almost depleted. Especially after an attack that had enough force to break through my aura.

Velvet started to stand up and charge the two JNPR teammates, but I quickly took her hand in my mine and stopped her. It's bad enough she as to see me like this. But if I have to see her get hurt, I'll probably die. Velvet turned back to me and looked down at me again, anger filled her eyes.

"Don't worry, I'll be ok, besides I'm not done yet." I let go of her hand and struggled to my feet. Velvet helped me get there but let go as I turned and faced Pyrra. Her eyes were wide as she realized I still wanted to continue. She had already holstered her spear and shield, believing the fight to be over.

"Ike, that's enough for today. You're obviously lost a lot of your aura." She held up her hands to show she was unarmed and wasn't going to fight anymore. I panted heavily as I took a few steps forward and tried to get her to draw her weapons. But she didn't and in the end I collapsed to my knees just a few feet in front of her and Juane.

My staff segments hit the ground and started to roll away from me slowly. I replaced my wing and looked up at Pyrra as dots filled my vision. I lost too much aura. I need to rest. "I still can't do it. My biggest obstacle, after weeks of non-stop training and sparring, still remains out of my league." I dropped my head as the edges of my vision began to fade.

"Ike!" everyone seemed to say at the same time. I narrowed my eyes and saw a small red pool slowly spreading from behind me. Is that… I reached a heavy hand down to touch the red and pulled it back so I could see it. My… blood…

I saw the rest of the event happen in slow motion. The world seemed to tilt sideways and a hard surface impacted the side of my body. Pyrra knelt down next to me before turning to Juane and telling him to get a teacher. Juane quickly disappeared and I was rolled onto my back. I heard Velvets voice in my heard as she slid to a stop next to me and put one hand on my cheek.

I felt my jacket being unzipped and hands press against the painful spot where Pyrra's spear had hit me. Voices were just an echo now as I heard a gasp from Pyrra. I couldn't understand what was being said at the moment but I was aware of Velvet's hand tensing against my cheek before it was removed.

Twenty chapters down. The first… what could it be called. Series, chapter, part, something, is coming to an end. Soon I will have to hit the drawing board again and decide if I'm going to keep writing or stop until Volume 2 of RWBY starts so I don't start a major clashing with the story line. Leave a review or send me a personal message about what you think, likes and dislikes, concerns or phobias about the story and I'll see you soon. Eternal Out.