Agony POV

"Checkmate" I said as I pushed my Queen towards the King, easily beating Napel at chess within 4 moves "Really? Beaten by 4 moves? Surely you could do better than that Napel"

She just looked at the board of chess with complete disbelief "H-how?" Both of us began to fix the pieces back to their original positions "I used to win so much when I was a kid. I-"

"-was tricked by everyone in my household" I finished her sentence for her "Come on, you were young… they probably let you win" I joked at her.

"N-no way! We played so many times and I-I-"

"-Am currently undergoing denial…" She just looked at me with anger after I finished her sentence again. "Come on. Let's keep on playing, maybe you'll pick up on some tricks"

We're in the school's library. Other than the numerous books stacked in the shelves, the library had different board games as well just to pass the time quietly. It was pretty ideal for the two of us. Having a warm-up for my brain is always a good idea before going out on the bright light of the day. I really am not a morning person. A couple of minutes later… "Checkmate" I repeated to her again "Checkmate" and again "Checkmate" and again…

"HOW!?" She screamed out, almost flipping the table with her rage.

"You do realize you're easy to read. You technically look at that one piece you'll move on your next turn so I just set up some traps and ruin your day" She still couldn't believe me, she even looked discouraged. "Awww… it's okay, you're not that bad. I had fun!"

"So I guess, they really let me win huh…"

That last one might have really hit her deep down. "U-ummm… Cheer up! Th-that just…" I thought up of a good excuse quickly "-Shows how much they love and care about you!" I felt proud about my quick thinking, hopefully it worked.

She looked down "I think I know that more than enough"

I hung my head down, ashamed that I just made someone feel like shit "Hey, sorry, it was just a joke…"

"No it's true… It's not your fault…"

"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Things seem to be moving to an interesting course, maybe she's beginning to open up now?

"It's just that-" She looked up at me and looked straight to my eyes then looked away again quickly "No. Nevermind… It's nothing"

I may not be the most sociable person but I know a person who needs help when I see one "Oh come on! You can tell me! I'm your leader and partner, you can trust me"

"N-no, it's just that I-"

"Alright fine! Don't tell me as your leader but at least let me help as a friend" I pat her shoulder, hoping she'd say something. "Come on, let's take a walk. It's fun to walk and talk"

She accepted my invitation and stood up with me, walking around the outskirts of the school as we hid from the sunlight under the trees. I looked at her and she still seemed reluctant to talk. "Want to hear a little secret?" I asked her. This caught her interest so she looked over at me and raised a brow, her silence told me to continue. "Did you know you're first friend I've talked to after 3 years?"

Her look turned to disbelief quickly "You've got to be kidding me?" she seemed quite surprised, I wonder why? "I know you're not the best person to talk to in the world but, there has to be some limit right?"

"Well, the last friend I made before I got into Beacon was someone I left. Do you know how it feels, to leave someone because you love them? To cut all ties with them all for their sake…"

"Yes…" Napel surprisingly looked very vulnerable right now, something I couldn't believe I'm seeing. Her eyes seemed to be ready to burst tears any moment.

"Come on, you can tell me. That's why I'm here…" I tried to convince her one last time.

She sighed out and began talking to my satisfaction.

Napel POV

I started telling him my story, feeling I should get this out of my chest. "Do you know about the family of Pendragon?"

He nodded immediately and said "Yes, known as a royal family. They provide some of the most amazing hunters and huntresses however after the war…"

"Yes the tragic story of the heroes of war" I remembered all over again "When the war has ended and the dust settled, we of the Pendragons have fallen. Our numbers diminished and our greatest hunters and huntresses have fallen, including my father and older brother" I was on the verge of tears remembering the past. It was such a happy time of my life, I wished that it would last forever. "I remember a lot. A young me playing swords with my older brother, Aur, the two of us were close. He usually trains and lets me practice with him. Both of us were taught by my father on how to fight"

The memories come rushing back to me. I remember when I first tried to pick up my sword, Caliburn, and I felt the weight in my hands. I was excited to one day wield it and stand alongside my family to fight as a huntress. Me, my mother and father and Aur always laughed at the dinner table. I remember when my mother and father argued about me being a huntress, my father told silly stories of people not knowing how to fight and peeing their pants in front of him while my mother told stories about stupid mistakes done in the battlefield. In the end it was me and my brother's effort in training that convinced my mother that it was okay. "By the end of the war, my brother and father died in the front lines. Their bodies were never found or maybe perhaps it can't be distinguished between the numerous corpses in the battlefield. Now I'm one of the last Pendragon huntresses out there"

I remember during their funeral. It felt like I would die crying at their tombs. I wanted to see them again, I wanted to be there with them. If only I grew stronger quickly perhaps this wouldn't happen at all. If I was stronger, I would still have my family. I couldn't keep it in anymore as I remember my father's dying words "Rise and never falter" Those words meant a lot to me. To fight for a better future everyday, not with a blade but with will and determination to surpass ourselves. That was his legacy. "He wanted me to grow as someone who's strong enough to reach a better future. He and Aur fought to protect me, the future. They died for all of us today. My mother however only realized the dangers of being a huntress so she isolated me from everyone else"

I could still remember that night when I gathered up all my resolve. By now, Agony and I have stopped walking and just sat back under a tree. "I resolved myself and confronted my mother about me being a huntress. I still trained even when I was isolated. I confronted her at night"

~Flashback~

"Mom, I know that you're only worried about me and that being a huntress is dangerous but I want to be one of them! I can't let their deaths stop me! This is what they wanted for me!" I screamed at her, letting my emotions carry me.

"But you're the last family that I have! You are the last Pendragon among us! I can't lose you!" She stood against me, always believing herself to be right despite the fact that I've been the one experiencing the worst of her decision.

"You will lose me forever if I stay here as your prisoner! I'm strong mom, I can do it! I can fight for my own future!" Again my father's words echo in me.

She looked at me and tears streamed down her cheeks "You sound just like your father, resolute, never backing down for what he believes in. You also have your brother's eyes, they may differ in color but I can see the fire in them"

"They fought for freedom, keeping me locked in here will only mock them. Please let me go" I felt sorry for her, I know she only wanted my safety but I needed this. I hugged her and locked ourselves with each other's warmth.

"Fine, if that is what you want. I'll send you to Beacon, that's where me and your father wanted you to go to originally. Rise Napel Pendragon and never falter. You have my blessing and the will of the family"

I let go of her, hearing my father's own words said to me filled me with determination to be ready for a new life. "Thanks! I will never falter!"

"Now no talking to boys, drinking, drugs," And she babbled on about things she prohibited. She may be the leader and supporter of the royal family but she was still my mother to my amusement.

~End of Flashback~

A tear falls down my eye as I hold back the rest. "I just-" I said, trying my best to talk straight "-I can't believe how far I've reached"

"Hehe, come here you little princess" Agony grabbed me by my shoulder and pulled me in close then he gently grabbed the side of my head and let it rest on his shoulder. "That's right, you've come so far now. So let's keep on going for it, together"

I smile as the tears stop, feeling safe under Agony's embrace "Roger that, leader…"

I didn't notice how long we were like that until I hear Agony speak again "…Napel…"

"Yes?"

"Ummm… You see, there are… people… staring at us now…" My eyes open wide in shock as reality strikes me hard and I look around to see some students and civilians looking at us with smiles.

I feel the embarrassment of our situation as I jump away from Agony and he just faces away from me. "YOU…" He tried to run but I got to him first "I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!" I raise a fist and my semblance accidentally kicked in, coating my fist with yellow translucent aura and then solidifying. I gave him a clean hit right at the jaw, knocking him out cold for a couple of minutes. I stayed to make sure he'll still be able to wake up but the crowd immediately dispersed when I looked at them as my next target. When he woke up after lunch, we walked home together as he kept a safe distance from me. 'A wise decision leader…' I smirked at the thought.

He massaged his jaw as we entered the room with Reid and Chrome in there watching a movie and eating some finger foods. The movie is some sort of action film including the Atlas Military Force. Reid looked at us when we entered "Hey there guys! Did you know some Combat Schools chose this place to be their fieldtrip location?"

Chrome also gave us her attention "There were many students and huntsmen fanatics walking around campus today…"

I hear Agony groan loudly as he opened the fridge and put ice on his jaw, resting at the couch to watch the movie with Chrome and Reid "I learned that the hardway…"

"Dude what happened?"

I walked over between them and took a sit between them causing Agony to flinch and try to make as much as possible distance between the two of us in the couch. He pointed at me to answer Reid to which I simply said "Me? What do you mean? Aren't I just a little Princess?"