A/N: Aftermath of the tournament and some major developments! Leave a review and don't forget to vote in the poll as you see. Bwahaha the developments have begun! Enjoy :3
The crowd stared in awe as the two high powered fighters were about to clash when a golden blade stopped Magnhild in its tracks followed by a wall of wind stopping the mace. Ike narrowed his eyes as he pushed Nora back before sinking his sword into the ground. Meanwhile, the mage grit his teeth as he struggled to keep Cardin from breaking through his wall of wind. The leader of team CRDL smirked as he pushed his mace even more before the wall detonated followed by him being launched backwards. The leader slid to a stop before hefting his mace back over his shoulder.
Nora on the other hand continued to attempt getting past the vanguard only to be launched backwards by a burst of wind which took the air out of her lungs. As she gasped for air she was able to stand and staggered forward only to see a flash of white before she finally stopped and lowered her head. "Winchester." The green haired mage looked at the mace user and pointed to the exit. "Leave and get checked out. You did not leave that match unscathed." The leader grit his teeth but before he could protest, his eyes widened as he heaved and threw up before collapsing to his knees.
"Tch. Did you do this t-urk.." He winced as he coughed up some blood which caused him to realize what happened. 'That last attack he hit me with...If he had been lucky enough to buy time he would have won..' The downed leader grit his teeth as he stood back up and staggered to the back as he grit his teeth each time his insides reacted to the damage he had sustained. 'That's twice he's got the upper hand on me. Tch. I should just get myself checked up before I keel over.'
Once Cardin left, the attention turned to Nora who was still holding her hammer tight in her hands while Jaune was trying to calm her down which caused her to lean forward and rest her head against the team leader who wrapped his arms around the sobbing girl who let her weapon fall to her side. Pyrrha caught up to her team and sighed as she noticed her friend hadn't done something she most likely would have regretted. The knight turned to face his team mate when the hammerer looked over at the spear bearer and then proceeded to walk towards the other exit. "Pyrrha. Take Nora to the hospital where they have Ren. I'll be here when you get back." The gladiator nodded as she led her friend out of the arena.
The announcer, a man about six feet tall with long white hair stopped in front of Ike, Soren and Jaune and crossed his arms. "Well that was an interesting fifteen minutes there." He paced around the three then stopped and shrugged. "The name is Linzer. I own the arena and I would like you to know that both young men will be well taken care of. Apart from that I would like to ask that you kindly go to the back as I must give the end of day announcement." The three nodded as they walked towards the exit that both Pyrrha and Nora had just taken.
Linzer smirked mischievously as he turned to face the crowd which looked like it was ready to tear the place down. "My my. I thank you all for attending the first round of the Vale city tournament! Please enjoy your ride, walk, or jog home as you take in the events that have transpired here today. From the courageous team leader facing his insecurities to the beauty facing the beast." At the talking, people began to cheer as a majority of the crowd had grown restless from the inactivity. "To the incredible show of affection two sisters have towards each other and even the lamentable show of cruelty which landed a fighter in the hospital. This is but the beginning as the struggles that each contestant faces will be put to the test!" He paced around the arena as he held up what looked like a crystal which began to glow.
"A place where man and woman! Faunus and Human! as well as all of you wonderful people can witness the birth and growth of this land's defenders!" The crystal began to crack and finally it released a flash of light which soared high into the sky before bursting into multiple small orbs which mimicked the actions of the first one. "I once again thank you all and wish to see you here in two days when the second and third rounds will be held." He bowed as the lights disappeared. "This is the end of the first day. We shall meet again two days from now." With those final words, the first day was over and the crowds dispersed.
Jaune leaned against the wall of the exit as he thought about what to do now that he wasn't part of the tournament anymore. 'You could barely hold your own. How do you expect to face off against the person who just beat down your friend?' He grit his teeth as he slammed his fist on the wall behind him in a show of frustration. "How am I still so weak? I've trained for months and I've only grown so little." He lowered his gaze to the ground and sighed until he heard a voice near him. "Growth comes over time and for the week or so we've trained. You grew quite a bit." The knight sighed as he looked up at the man who stood at the opposite wall.
"It's not enough." Jaune pushed himself off of the wall and stretched before looking at his instructor with a defeated look on his face. "I need to be the one who can carry the team when something like this happens. When one of us is hurt I have to be the one to pick up the slack! and it isn't about responsibilities and it isn't about asking others to do their share as well. This is about me being able to fill a role when we're weakened. Being strong enough that I don't need a shield at my back at all times!"
The vanguard sighed as he grabbed the knight's shoulder. "Be patient Jaune. Time will tell if you can break your limits." The knight nodded as he walked further into the back of the arena and stopped when he saw Pyrrha standing against a nearby wall with a downed look on her face. "You heard everything?" The spear bearer nodded before she felt something be placed in her hand. "I need to be alone." When she looked down, her eyes widened and she grabbed his arm which caused him to harshly pull away. "What don't you get about wanting to be alone?!"
She stepped back a little before landing a solid strike to his face. As the knight staggered, she grabbed him and pinned him to the wall opposite of her. "If you plan on being alone, you take your scroll with you so we can call you if anything happens!" When he tried to get away she pinned him back down again which caused him to glare at her intensely. The glare took the spear bearer with shock and caused her to actually cower a little. "Carry the team. Filling roles. Not needing a shield at your back. You're letting the whole leader role fill your head with ideas that don't need there Jaune Arc!" He winced as he knew that whenever she used his full name, she was serious. "You need to let us help you once in a while and going off on your own won't accomplish anything!"
He had enough. He growled and let his anger completely take him over as he grabbed his partner's shoulder before pinning her to the wall opposite of him. When she tried to struggle, he braced his forearm near her neck which caused her to tense up. "I've been alone for the longest! What makes you think you know everything?" He was shaking as he let everything out, all the emotions, the frustrations and the pain. "I've... Always been alone Pyrrha." He let her go and turned to walk away until he felt her hand wrap around his arm again. "That's where you're wrong. If you're going off on your own at least think about us! Think about the people who have been by your side since day one here!" He sighed and nodded before leaving the arena all together.
Pyrrha calmed down and looked at Jaune's scroll in her hands before sliding it into the pouch she had on her side. She sighed and decided to go to the room that was set aside for her team in order to get some sleep and hopefully wake up feeling much better than she was feeling now. 'Jaune's confidence suffers so much that it get's hard to see him when he tries and tries. He grows but he sees us and he believes he needs to try even harder.' She stopped in front of a set of large double doors which were labeled 'Team JNPR' she quickly reached into her pouch and grabbed a white card which she slid into the reader. After a few seconds, there was a beep which allowed her to go inside.
The room itself was luxurious. Intricate tables, seats and couches lined the inside of the room and on the far end, there was a pair of doors which she guessed where the bed rooms. When she stepped inside, she looked around as she only saw one bed in that room followed by the same thing in the other room. It was either believed that the members of the same sex were expected to sleep together or something was up. She rubbed her temples as a headache began to settle in when she heard the door open. With a swift motion, she reached for Milo and launched it which luckily impacted next to the head of the white haired announcer. "Oh Dust! I'm sorry!"
Linzer chuckled as he gripped Milo and pulled it from the wall before tossing it back to its owner. "It's alright miss Nikkos. I should have knocked before entering." He walked over to a nearby couch and sat down allowing one leg to go over the other. "I want to know how you are feeling. I mean you and mister Arc were the opening act and it looks like he is nowhere to be seen due to the lack of people in this exact room." He pulled out a small envelope and placed it on the table. "I also came to apologize for not intervening in the Ren and Cardin match. It should have never reached that extreme." He placed then placed a second envelope next to the first one.
The gladiator sat down at the opposite end of the table and looked down at the two envelopes. "It's ok. We all knew the risks that came with joining an event like this one." She reached over and grabbed both of them which caused the white haired announcer to smile. "I on the other hand am feeling a bit on the sore side from the first match. Jaune took the offensive early and the few hits he landed had enough power to leave bruises." She opened the first envelope and it had a card in it. "What is this?"
The announcer stood and walked around the room with a childish smile. "It is recompense for possible damages received during the tournament." He then placed a sheet of paper down which had a number on it. "This is how much each contestant has received and since today was such a success both from physical attendance as well as people viewing on television. I decided to give each contestant their payment for their hard work. At least that is what I wish to accomplish but alas I am often scolded since the share holders believe I am far too kind." He chuckled as he stood up and walked towards the door. "Oh while we're still on the subject of the payment, the amount on that card as well as team RWBY and CRDL's is a combined amount. The other envelope is for you if you choose to look at it. It might have some..." He smirked as he took a couple of steps outside. "Insight."
The red head looked at the envelope and opened it with a curious look as a sheet of paper slid out and fell onto the table. When she picked it up, her eyes widened at the bracket that had all of the names written down. "I guess This is the setup for the next round." She looked closely at it but stopped when she noticed that only four names were on it. "I guess I have to figure out whose fighting who."
Ike sighed as he wandered down the halls of the nearly vacant arena until he heard a series of people speaking. "Yang stop it!" He chuckled at the sudden outburst and continued walking. "Oh come on Ruby. I'm just trying to get your wounds wrapped up!" He rubbed the bridge of his nose when he heard a loud thud followed by more yelling. "Yang I said stop it!" After a few minutes, he knocked on the door which Yang opened with an eyebrow raised. "Oh its you. Something wrong?"
"I just heard a lot of screaming and thought something was wrong." The blonde fighter grinned and chuckled a bit before shaking her head. "No everything is fine I'm just bandaging Ruby up but she can't stay still." Ike tapped his chin then reached behind his back and held out a small container as well as a flask. "Are you asking me to drink with you?" She grinned as she grabbed the objects followed by her quickly whistling as she stepped out of the room completely and then leaning against the wall.
"No Yang the stuff I gave you is stuff to use on wounds as well as a decently powered pain killer." He leaned next to her as she crossed her arms and looked over at the vanguard who looked like he was thinking. "I can show you how the stuff works." He looked over at the fighter who was grinning mischievously. Noting her smirk, he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I mean I can tell you how to use it."
She nodded as she held out the small canister. "Do you have a wound somewhere that wouldn't cause an awkward situation?" She chuckled as she moved her shirt up revealing more of her toned abs which were bandaged. "Alright this might hurt a little." He quickly unwrapped the bandage and applied the ointment to the open wound before reaching behind his back and retrieving a bandage which he wrapped around her wound then allowed her to pull her shirt back down. She winced slightly then she stretched and it didn't hurt. "Just use a little bit on the wound like that and it should start healing a bit faster." He then grabbed the flask and opened it. "Here take a small drink and that should be enough to make your body feel all around better."
The blonde took a drink and after a few minutes she felt like she could fight again. "Man that stuff works quickly." She stretched and then looked at the items. "Mind if I can take them? I mean so I can help out the others." The vanguard chuckled as he nodded. "I make that stuff all the time so if you want some more just come to me and I'll make some more but for now I think I'll go back to walking around." The blonde nodded as she stepped back inside and allowed Ike to leave.
After a few minutes, he heard a series of small footsteps behind him. "hmm?" When he turned around he was met with Ruby staring at him while catching her breath. "Can I help you Ruby?" She nodded and fixed herself as she walked next to him. "I just want to know some more about the people I'll have teaching me for the next few years." Ike chuckled as he walked into what looked like a waiting area and took a seat. "So what do you want to know Ruby?"
She wrung her hands as she thought about what to ask about first. "W-well. I mainly want to know why you're so strict." She looked at the ground and occasionally took a glance as she looked at the instructor trying to think of the answer. "If I'm not strict on you guys then you will never have the drive to become better and pass your limits." The reaper rubbed her chin before looking back at the vanguard who raised an eyebrow. "Well that's obvious. I mean is there any personal reason you tend to be so strict?"
Ike narrowed his eyes and looked down at the floor with a saddened look. "Have you ever seen someone die in front of you? Have you ever suffered through the loss of a close friend, a family member?" She looked over to the instructor and stood. "I haven't seen someone die but I have suffered the loss of a family member." She sat on a seat that was across from the vanguard in order to get a better look at the instructor.
"I'm strict because I saw both of my parents die and then later on I witnessed countless people die both at the end of my sword and at the hands of an enemy." He rested his head on his knuckles and took a deep breath before continuing. "I led multiple campaigns, hundreds of battles, and thousands of fights." He closed his eyes as he remembered events that altered the very way he was. His battles against Daein, facing off against Begnion and their cruel senators and finally, the battle that awakened the Goddess Ashera. "I only have the members of the mercenary group I led. They make up my family but there is someone who I couldn't stand to lose even if she hated me for the rest of her life. My sister, Mist. I mean I couldn't stand loosing anyone but she means the most to me since I practically raised her along side the other mercenaries." He rubbed his temples but continued. "I pushed her past her limits and she learned to fight. She could heal wounds better than my mother and use the sword as well as myself and my dad. That was thanks to all the training I put her through and in the end, it saved her life."
Ruby looked on as she heard more about his past, his battles and how he nearly lost his entire team when they failed an escape plan. "I kinda understand where you're coming from. I mean if I was the older sibling and I was incredibly strong, I'd push everyone to get as strong as me so I wouldn't be afraid every time we were out but there's only so much you can do." The vanguard chuckled as he stood up and began walking back towards the hallway. "You really push us but sometimes we need to hear some form of positive reinforcement. It doesn't only have to be negative." Ike sighed, he knew he was beaten and turned to her with a weak smile.
"Alright I'll take your hints Ruby. For now I guess I'll take you back to your room since its really late." The crimson reaper nodded as she rubbed her eyes and yawned. He looked over and noticed her sheepishly looking at the ground. "C-can you carry me..?" The laugh that escaped his mouth caused the girl to look away in embarrassment in order to cover the blush spreading across her face. Instead of waiting for his reply, she was going to walk ahead when she felt herself being picked off of her feet and held in his arms which caused her face to turn an even darker shade. "Y-you didn't h-have to do that!"
Ike chuckled as he carried the embarrassed reaper back to her room. 'She reminds me of Mist and by extension makes me want to see Tellius again...but then again, maybe this place will help me let go of the guilt. The guilt for those bad calls and poor preparation that killed so many of my men.' The vanguard looked over at the reaper who despite her arguing, fell asleep against the vanguard who had just arrived at her team's room.
As night descended upon Vale, a man with dark red hair, black suit and white mask slowly stalked around a dark corridor until he reached a glowing control panel. "Now then let's see if this phrase works." He tapped a few buttons which activated a screen which beeped before speaking in a synthesized voice. "Please speak the phrase for entry into the main lab." The man cleared his throat before looking at the screen. "O Vanity which has blessed thy face. Open thy eyes and look upon me who has brought you within the confines of this place which you shall call home. Awaken my princess of snow. Awaken and look upon me with thy cold stare." Once he finished, the screen began to glow green which allowed the door to open.
The man looked around and his eyes caught a man in a white shirt, dress pants and trench coat standing at a window. He stared out at the floor where people labored on different projects which ranged from improved dust refining all the way to new dust powered weapons. When he turned, his back had the crest of the Schnee family embroidered into it. The man looked up and caught a series of cameras that were there to spot possible intruders at least when they worked. He quickly reached into his coat pocket and tossed a small disk which latched onto the camera and shorted out its power supply. With a few more throws, the rest of the cameras were disabled and he was able to move towards the door which was open.
Once he reached the top of the stair case, he was spotted by two guards who leveled their weapons at him. "Stand down and we won't fire!" The man chuckled as he lowered his arms to his sides and waited for the two guards to make a move when one fell back from having the grip of the red head's katana impact the guard's head causing the other one to quickly retaliate only to be cut down in a split second. The man looked down at the other guard and raised his sword before swinging down and finishing off the incapacitated guard.
The white room was painted red and the man sighed as he quickly closed the eyes of the two guards before moving to the next room which held more guards that were cut down before they could react. "A hunter would have been a more preferable alternative to just having dimwitted guards defending one of the Schnee's most prized labs." He sighed as he climbed one final staircase and reached the door leading him to Wesson Schnee. "Mirror Mirror." Once the words escaped his lips, the doors parted and revealed the leader of the controversial company leaning against the glass window he had been looking out from. "Adam to strike team." A muffled voice responded which caused him to sigh before he reached for his sword and waited. "Commence Operation!"
A few seconds later, the lab erupted into screams and gunfire as guards protected the workers and defense mechs roared to life in an attempt to get rid of the intruders before too much damage was caused. "Why are you doing this young man?" The white haired owner of the corporation questioned while drawing his weapon and readying his stance. Adam stayed silent as he lowered himself as he gripped the grip of his weapon before an explosion rocked the lab and everything else. What Wesson saw caused him to lower his head as his men and workers were slowly succumbing to the higher overall strength of the Faunus which comprised the strike team Adam had with him.
"Call back your men and we will stop attacking them." The owner grit his teeth as he turned and pressed his fingers against an earpiece he was wearing. "Good." Soon after, the fighting stopped but not for long as the remaining people retreated, one of the members of Adam's team opened fire and killed the few people who had yet to escape. The red head grit his teeth as he reached up to his headset. "I said ceasefire when they retreat!" The muffled voices caused Adam to sigh as he drew his sword and pointed it forward. "I'm sorry but new orders. No survivors."
Dust Net Codex Entry - Land: Tellius - Countries
Daein - Daein is one of the three human led countries in Tellius. The country has had a bloody history full of war as their kings succumbed to the allure of power and rampaged throughout the lands. Their last two kings were both slain the first by his own son and the second by the Radiant Hero Ike. The second ruler was named Mad King Ashnard and he ruled with an iron fist. After his defeat and death at the hands of Ike, the land fell into despair as Begnion, the country that gave the hero support became corrupted with the sudden gain in revenue as they terrorized Daein citizens. The mistreatment led to the creation of the Dawn Brigade which took on the role of the savior of the destroyed and shattered nation. Upon the success the Dawn Brigade had, they led a full rebellion that ousted the Begnion occupational Army. After they reclaimed their freedom, they unexpectedly joined sides with the people that oppressed them for three years. Daein stayed on Begnion's side and eventually it led to the Dawn Brigade clashing with the Greil Mercenaries during the Human - Laguz War.
Begnion - Begnion is one of the three human led nations in Tellius. The country worshiped the Goddess Ashera and they claimed that their empress was a direct link with the Goddess. Naming their leader the apostle and worshiping them as a God. This mentality allowed the senators to corrupt the government and eventually led different campaigns that would nearly destroy the relationship the nation had with others. During the Human - Laguz War, the nation was split into two factions. One supported the Apostle and would follow her without question while the others followed the senators and did their bidding. Upon the death of the senators and the defeat of the Goddess Ashera, Begnion was reformed into a kingdom where the Empress was the sole leader of the nation.
Codex Entry - Person of Interest
Mist - Ike's sister. She is a spirited woman who is willing to do anything for those she cares about to the point where she had thrown herself in the path of a spell which rendered her unconscious for several weeks. She is a healer who has nearly mastered the healing arts but apart from the healing arts, she is adept with a sword. Learning from Ike has given her skill close to his own. She wields a specially forged blade named the Florette which is made of materials that are similar to the ones in the very blade Ike holds. She is married to a man named Boyd.
Ashera - The Goddess of order who made a contract with all living sentient beings. The contract stated that humanity and the Laguz could not start a war which would engulf the continent of Tellius. After seven hundred years, the pact was broken and she unleashed her judgement which turned those who were weak to stone. The ones not affected by this technique were strong willed or were chosen by the Goddess to be her soldiers. Once she was defeated by the Radiant Hero, she and her sister reunited which allowed their true form to reawaken as the two halves combined together. She currently watches over Tellius and awaits the day the Radiant Hero returns from his journey.