Heyo for those who saw the original post. My apologies found out why the copy n paste method was not great.
Ruby looked back at her team as they continued to follow the fight club toward Maplecrest Drive. Her head was throbbing from Ms. Victoria's Teaching crop. She may have fallen asleep but she learned the hard way why Filia claimed Goodwitch had nothing on her homeroom teacher. Her and Yang learned indefinitely. Filia said the students called her Deep Violet, a reference to a fabled vigilante of New Meridian's commercial districts.
At the moment however, the teacher's riding crop was the least of her concerns. Her team needed to master the new world rules that were placed upon them. She felt it in the fight Filia and Ms. Fortune did as a demonstration for them the night before. Based on what she saw it seemed to rely on a form of energy that came only from cheering crowds. She still recalled the feeling from that night. It was familiar yet foreign, Familiar mostly since she tended to get overly excited.
The head of the fight club, a female in very unkept New Meridian High uniform turned around to look at them. "Alright people, today is just exhibitions the completion agreed we would back off once their opponent's ass is on the ground." Her voice held a very commanding tone got all their attention and refused to let it go. "Since we have some fresh meat today they are to fight our crosstown rivals noobies." She yelled looking directly at Team RWBY. "Normally their captain is to join them but since their leader is the parasite infected student, well, they'll have to hope they will play somewhat fair."
Ruby looked around at the cross-town rivals nervously. Many of them looked like tough opponents. To make matters worse she was not able to use the Crescent Rose since it qualified as an actual weapon plus with its sniper rifle feature it was more likely to kill someone rather than subdue. Peacock said she'd get them rubber bullets to be used but until then weapons are not able to go hot unless it was an actual fight or the Skullgirl. "What are we going to do? We're used to using weapons." She asked looking toward Blake and Wiess.
"Pff." Yang blew air through her lips unamused. "Big deal, just punch them."
"Easy for you to say" Ruby spoke up as she looked at some of the other members of the other school fight clubs. "Guess we are up after this group." She said watching a small team of students in a bare-knuckle struggle with their fists and a few clubs with soft pillows duct taped around it. Ruby looked at them then noticed what looked like a staff and a wood sword. She quickly and hastily taped the two together forming a makeshift scythe.
Wiess looked for a weapon to use as well. She quickly noticed a student with a training rapier which she grabbed it quickly to use in combat. She looked it over quickly to see how it was built. It was flimsy built with what could be described as coat hangers and plastic bowl being used as a hand guard. The tip of the make shift blade was held together from looked to be a wad of duct tape. A good portion of the weapon on a less thorough examination showed that Duct tape covered a good portion of the rapier. She looked at it disappointed but since it was short notice she would have to make do.
Blake on hearing got cautious as she began looking for a weapon. She had become use to the versatility of the Gambol Shroud, her own personal weapon. She continued to look around quickly for a suitable substitute. She noticed a baton connected to a long strand of rope. She quickly grabbed it. It may be the hardest form of her weapon to use but it was arguably the best one she could find on short notice.
Yang however was a different story from her other teammates. She simply found a few pieces of card board she tapped around the cuffs of the dress shirt she borrowed from Filia. It may not have been a weapon but since she tended to use her fists all she needed was some arm guards.
The fight club head walked up to the four as they were finishing examining their quick to forge weapons. She looked at them a little amused. "You four got spunk I'll give ya that." She said as her friendly words vanished from the air of the moment being replaced by a foul a vulgar tone fueled by her glare. "But bein quick is only half the fight. Get out there and show us why you need cred." The four were forced to run straight to the middle of the street several students from the nearby schools were sitting around watching the fight. An ice cream truck was sitting off in the distance. It seems to be secretly taking bets however.
"ALRIGHT NEW MERIDIAN RUMBLERS HERE COMES AMATUER HOUR!" A Female announcer shouted out loud for everyone around them to hear. "Today's combatants come recommended from two known skull hunters."
Ruby looked at Blake and Wiess. Wiess noticing Ruby's vacant expression told her all she needed to know. Wiess rolled her eyes as she spoke "Those who hunt for the Skullheart Ruby." She was not surprise she did not actually learn anything from there history lesson today.
Ruby simply nodded as she went to hearing the announcer continue her banter. "Starting from the cross-town opponents. These four came recommended by the purr-fect combination of beauty and lethality."
Ruby looked a head at the opponents though the crowd was still in their way. "Who do you think we are going up against?" She asked cautiously.
Yang stood still smiling. "I already know."
"Give it up for Little innsmouth's very own Ms. Fortune's team!" the moment when the announcer yelled her name all of Team RWBY's eyes widened. In front of them stood Team JNPR all dawning makeshift weaponry as well. Ms. Fortune however was leaning on a lamppost with a black eye.
"Jaune!?" Ruby yelled in surprise
The crowd began to do a form of drum roll as the announcer pierced the intense air. "Now for the fresh off the boat home team. Recommended by the Girl with killer split ends. Give it up for Filia's team of misfits." Team JNPR looked at them in shock as team RWBY when Filia's name was mentioned.
Jaune's eyes locked with Ruby in shock at their opponent. "Woah, we can't fight them. They're on our side." He stammered though the crowd deafened his plead to the point only Pyrrha heard him.
Nora slide right next to him. Her appearance was different for starters her hair was hiding under a fedora and there was a cello case strapped to her back. Given how this was out of the ordinary the case was hard to ignore. Blake noticed still that Ms. Fortune was seemingly away from the crowd.
"What's this?" The announcer yelled in confusion. "It seems Filia is missing Could this be a quick match?"
"I volunteer as substitute." A familiar voice came in through the crowd. A person in what looked like a white sweater was seen waving. She got closer to the front causing Ms. Fortune to open her one good eye. She immediately felt the hair on her head, ears and tail stand on end much like a cornered beast. The person that came through the crowd was Cerebella smiling ear to ear without much of an actual care on her face.
"Cerebella?" The announcer yelled in confusion. "Well, there's nothing in the rules so I guess she can." She was clearly unsure of it herself making the crowd both cheer for the increase in carnage but murmur with confusion. "Fighter's take their stance."
Cerebella took center as Ms. Fortune looked at her in the center of the circle. The two stared into each other's eyes. Ms. Fortune with a glazed glare that clearly had discontent for Cerebella. The biggest curiosity is how Cerebella instead of having an anger look was rather happy. To anyone in the area that saw this could tell it was uneasy thig to look at.
"I was hoping for this." Cerebella calmly spoke looking at Ms. Fortune more clearly. She was adjusting her hat to get ready for the fight. Ms. Fortune untrusting of her kept her predatory glare. She may have been silent but the two knew she was listening while glaring in her good eye. Cerebella closed her eyes while still smiling. "Talk with me after the fight, Kay? I have something I'd like to discuss."
"TRY TO SHOW SOME STAR POWER!" The announcer yelled excitedly as she threw herself into the air right as the phonograph began playing a swing track. "AND ACTION!"
Cerebella took the first swing quickly at Ms. Fortune. Quick on her feet she dodge rolled out of the way as Vice Verse's Powerful fist hit the ground. It once again proved to be capable of crashing into the ground and damaging the asphalt. Ms. Fortune removed her arm from its socket to gain an extended reach having it claw Cerebella across the face. She flinched with pain as she made her orange hat reach out and grab Ms. Fortune to smash her along the ground. The impact decapitated her. Cerebella grinned at what she accomplished until Nora dashed pass Nadia's head wielding what looked to be her grenade launcher as a giant hammer.
The swing got intercepted by Blake who tackled her to the ground. Quickly laying the rope she used to hold on to Nora's leg. Nora attempted to strike at Blake as she backflipped away from the massive hammer. Nora quickly tried to get herself free from the rope, every untangling of the maze of lace caused it to get stuck on another appendage. She eventually tied herself up in the rope. Blake took advantage of that by grabbing the foiled blade and yanking hard on the rope sending Nora into uncontrolled spin. What Blake did not expect was for Nora to take advantage of her position. Using her hammer on one end and the cello case as a counter weight she began to spin uncontrollably. The hammer made contact with Blake sending her flying to the air.
Nora was a spinning wrecking ball. None of Team RWBY or Cerebella could get close to the out of control top that Nora and Blake created. Yang Watching it pushed her sister and Wiess out of the way as she approached Nora's swing. She observed it for a second before rearing her fist back. Yang let her fist loose as it landed square in Nora's jaw throwing her off balance. Satisfied she turned around watching her sister take on Jaune.
"Keep your head in the game." A voice called behind her. Yang quickly turned around only to be headbutted by Ms. Fortune's flying head. Quickly followed by a drop kick from her headless body. Yang wiped the dazed look from herself as she looked at the headless body. She began grinning after realizing the punch line of her pun. She stood up taking a general combat stance looking directly at the body. The head dived at her trying to bite her. Yang countered by kicking the head into the air giving Ms. Fortune a view of the battlefield. It did not last as gravity took its course pulling her down from her position.
Her head landed in the middle of a fight between Jaune and Cerebella. Jaune was watching out carefully. He saw what she could do back in Remnant and this time neither of them had aura to protect themselves effectively this fight was in Cerebella's favor. Vice Versa made a cocking noise as it went in for an uppercut against Jaune. He let go of the wood sword and the trash can lid that was doubling as his shield. He lost balance as he began to stumble backwards from the force of the hit that nearly hit him and fell. He regained his sense of his surroundings as Cerebella stood over him. Her grin was showing a malicious joy toward his situation as vice versa cracked it's knuckles. It went in for the finishing Slam only to be rammed by what looked like a banged up looking riot shield. Cerebella gazed curiously at her attacker. It was Pyrrha opting with a rectangular riot shield and a wooden rod.
"what the spartan get up was too Remnant?" Cerebella taunted as Pyrrha just faced her down cautiously.
"Jaune stay close I'm going to need your help." She spoke calmly as she slowly approached the Medici leg buster.
The moment Pyrrha was in Vice Verse's reach Cerebella lunged at the two attempting to wrestle away the armored shield. It was countered by several strong hits to her side from the staff she was using as a weapon. Angered Cerebella's hat grabbed the shield in one hand and tried to yank it away while her other hand used it's harden bulk to protect herself from blows dealt by Pyrrha's impromptu weapon. Unexpectant for the defender, Jaune snuck from behind her and laid a few heavy swings on her forcing her toward the ground.
The crowds cheering was intoxicating to The Remnant fighters since it felt like raw energy was slowly going into them with no stop. Ruby was the first to crack under the energy as she felt a sudden surge in her adrenalin time for her was beginning to slow down or more accurately, her perception of time. She Turned to notice that it seemed Yang as well as the rest of her team were in the same boat the only two who were showing no effects of being effected was Cerebella and Ms. Fortune who had experience dealing with this form of energy.
Ruby could not stand the energy. She looked at where Lie Ren was and took aim. She dashed at him with a very surprising burst of speed. She tripped him with her scythe before spinning into a red blur that vortexed Ren toward her after the initial trip. He felt several powerful strikes before he was catapulted a good eight feet away.
"It looks like Red has shown off one of her Blockbusters" the announcer yelled into the crowd. "Don't know what she calls it but hey better than nothing."
Lie Ren stood up after suffering the hit looked at Ruby in shock. She looked back at him with the general confident smile her sister tended to have especially if she managed a devastating strike. She took her combat stance once more her scythe lying farther back from the left. She slowly approached Lie who was holding what looked like two small batons for weapons since he left his twin machine pistoles at their hideout.
Ruby went in for a strike only to find a cello case falling in between her and Ren. Nora had got in between them. What was more terrifying is it seemed she was what could be describe as drunk on the energy. She pulled her hammer back and Swung with enough force to create a concussive shockwave that towered into the air.
Ruby took the full brunt of the hit. The concussive swing felt as if it hit multiple times knocking her downwards in the process. She struggled to get back up only to see that Nora's already questionable sanity had dropped to the day they wrecked the cafeteria. She now tilted her fedora far enough to cover her eyes as she opened the case on her back. She pulled out what looked to be a gun of sorts. It's black metal body was cased with wood towards the end of the barrel as ridges took over the gun near where the chamber was. The gun's magazine was circular in appearance. Ruby could tell already that this gun whatever it was at the very least was an assault rifle.
"Dance flapper." Nora yelled overly joyed at her situation.
Ruby realized there was not time to stop her or get up and move. She closed her eyes as the gun began to fire. It made a peculiar tapping sound as it fired. She did not feel any bullets hit her however. She opened her eyes in complete horror at what was in front of her.
Ms. Fortune had taken the brunt of the force Her body riddled with entry and exit wounds. The crowd for the most part had scattered from the events that unfolded. Nora finally came to her senses as she saw their feline feral friend fall to the ground in a slump.
"Nora." Ruby said in shock. "What did you do?"
Nora's face was in shock as to her own actions. She killed someone, an actual friend at that. "I-I" She stammered in surprise from her own actions. She fell to her knees in fear to her situation. "I'M SORRY!" she yelled in sorrow toward it.
Cerebella walked up to Nora putting her hand on her shoulder. "Better luck next time." She said calmly as she began to approach the motion less body. Everyone there looked at her in confusion. They recalled her sawing how she hated the cat burglar in the past from the way they acted but why was she acting this way toward her.
"Better luck?" Wiess glared angrily at her nonchalant nature. "If you had not noticed She is dead right now." She pointed toward the same body the circus performer was approaching.
Cerebella stopped and turned around looking at them with a lack of amusement. "Black Dahlia, the greatest assassin in the Medici Mafia couldn't kill her. What makes you think some girl with a typewriter could do better?" She began to consider the track toward the body.
Ruby looked back down confused at the limp body in shock. Her body was regenerating where bullet wounds were. "What's going on?" was all she could muster as she began to stand up and back away from Ms. Fortune's body. She had seen her regenerate from severed limbs but she took bullets on every section of the body at least once and she is somehow healing from that.
"As it is, this cat is wanted for robbery." Cerebella said unamused at Ruby's reaction. "The item in question was a rock of some sorts called a life stone." Pyrrha looked up interested as she spoke. She remembered the cat thief telling this story before. She began to listen more intently as Cerebella continued. "Unfortunately, the item cursed the damn cat to have more than just nine lives."
Ms. Fortune's body began to twitch as it started to stand back up making everyone look in surprise. "That hurt more than I thought." She Grumbled as the rest of her wounds healed and lead bullets that were lodge into her fell to the ground. Her few minutes didn't last long as her torso was ripped from her head, arms, and legs from Nora's tackle. Her head hit the ground with a decent sized thud. "Damnit!" She hissed as she tilted to where her body was now lying.
"I am so sorry I don't know what got over me." Nora pleaded as tears were rolling heavily down her face from her shame.
"It happens. Why did you think I took the full force of it?" She said while trying to get her limbs to reattach. Her ears perked as she heard footsteps running in their direction. She tilted her head to see Filia dashing toward the area.
"I heard gunfire clear from the school. Is everything alright." She yelled as she quickly approached. Filia slowly began to back away when she saw the Typewriter on the ground. "Who's is that's" She asked her hand shaking as she pointed at the gun.
"Nora found the old defense Stache. "I honestly thought it got destroyed the night of the raid but guess it was not the only thing that bitch forgot to do." She said grinning as she finally regained eyesight in the eye that was blackened earlier. All of team Rwby looked at her confused as to why she didn't do it earlier since it seemed she was immune to being killed. "The rapid regeneration only works if a vital organ is obliterated. That's when this life stone ability kicks in also dire blood loss."
Filia flinched a little as she said that. "I did not need to know how you got it to work." She watched disgusted how her body was reconstructing itself. She looked toward Ruby. "I see you were part of amateur week. I forgot about it that was my fault." She bowed her head slightly embarrassed how something like that was forgotten by her.
"It was a lot of fun." Yang spoke still raring for an actual fight. It obvious to tell that New Meridian has been more of a vacation to her than an actual mission much to some of the more serious people in the group.
"Yeah I remember watching this clumsy one fight for the first time." Samson spoke up overly reminiscent of the past when he first took Filia to train with these people. It was not much to say since she had a rather humorous beginning.
A few weeks after waking up with Samson and little idea as to who she was Filia. Was attacked as she was heading to one of Samson's numerous acquaintances. That day Samson decided that she needed to learn to fight and tried to train her. The results were less than stellar. It was the school's fight club that trained her to take advantage of Samson's combat experience. It was there how Samson discovered while she was not like one of her more favorite hosts she was faster on her feet in comparison possibly more agile in comparison as well. It was what made the two build their partnership from one as offense the other as defense.
Stomachs began to grumble as the group looked at the carnage in the area as well as sirens off in the distance. "We should probably get a move on." Filia stated looking at the area around them. "I got cash from the school so I think I should show you some actual New Meridian food rather than tou-fo." Ms. Fortune looked at Filia little angered at her statement but shrugged it off.
Cerebella raised her hand excitedly "I'll chip in to." She declared as she kept her eyes closed. The group began to leave when Nadia's clawed hand grabbed her shoulder. "Don't think I forgot Ms. Fortune she said turning to face her." Nadia seemed slightly uninterested in whatever she had to say but seeing as she started the meeting she might as well hear what the knee breaker has to say. "There comes a time in all of our lives where we need to bury the hatchet between rivals." Nadia raised her eyebrows confused at whatever she was going on about. She stayed quiet to let her speak her piece. "That is why I think given our circumstance we need to do the same for the benefit of the both of us."
"(She has a different reason for this.)" Nadia concluded un amused. "Cut the crap and get to the point." She blurted out as she began to walk toward the group that was now a block an away from them.
"Harsh." Cerebella stated disappointed she continued to walk as she tried to think of the best way of explaining herself. She sighed as she decided to be blunt with her arch enemy. "I need help breaking into the Medici mansion." Nadia shook her head in disbelief as she said it. "I saw the photo of the missing heir to the family. She looks familiar so I want to check her room. For clues."
Nadia closed her eyes. The risks where great but it would the first time in half a decade their house got infiltrated. "It won't be easy" She spoke calmly. She opened one of her eyes to look her in the face. "How do I know if this is a trap?"
Cerebella feared her asking the question she knew would go through her head. "I can't say anything here that you will trust." Her sincerity leaked out of her voice in shame at the fact she knows this is a tough one to answer. "My honor as a circus performer is on the line here." she blurted suddenly.
Nadia shrugged unamused "A magician's best secret is always in deception." She stated bluntly.
"I will buy you food." She tried to bargain.
"No way I remember the last time you gave me a cheese burger." She yelled angrily at her. It was clearly a sore subject for the both.
"Is there a way to prove it?" She asked defeated.
The Cat Feral looked into the air thinking to herself before grinning evilly. "Give me your hat." She said with little remorse toward her.
Her eyes widened in shock before turning into anger. "Well forget it! I don't need your help." She shouted angrily before covering her mouth. Nadia had a slightly sadistic smirk on her face.
"Well I guess our hatchet got what it axed for." She said turning toward the rest of the team.
"Wait." Cerebella panicked. Nadia turned around thumbs in her belt loops. She sighed in defeat. She took of Vice Versa and looked at its skull before handing it to Nadia who kept a straight face. She looked at the ground knowing she lost.
"The penthouse covers the top six floors correct?" The feline's voice came from behind her it's tone less hostile than previous encounters. "Meaning garmented twenty to thirty guards. What we need is a diversion." Cerebella looked toward the voice and saw Nadia spinning the hat on one of her claws.
"The tournament." She blurted out in realization. Nadia eyed her confused as she began to rebalance herself. "Beowulf is returning to the arena in an armatures welcome tourney. winner is said to be getting information regarding the Skullheart's where about."
Nadia grinned "We're going to need a third body on this job." Cerebella looked trying to think of who. "As they all say these things can use a feline's touch." She said tilting the performer's head toward the Blake who was unaware of any of this.
"Her?" She asked confused as Nadia nodded her head. "Okay can you ask her. I have bad luck with cats." Her statement made the cat thief chuckle as she began to move ahead of them.
Before leaving Nadia dropped something on Cerebella's head. She pulled it off confused as she realized her weapon Vice Versa was on her head yet again. She grinned realizing that while they were not on easy terms it seems what she did had earned Nadia's trust even if is about as stable as a condemned bridge.
Elsewhere.
"Guys?" Yang yelled confused as to where they went. She got distracted by the police cars that she never saw them dive into an alleyway back a few blocks. She was not fully sure where she was either. "Hello?" She yelled out again. She wasn't exactly scared but her predicament was unnerving. She kept feeling like she was being watched. "I swear if it's some creep." She mumbled to herself as she continued her way through the alleyway. Her ears picked up on a noise of someone running at a fast pace. She turned around to see a IBM flying square into her face.
Yang hit the ground dazed from the hit. "What the?" She asked getting up. A shadow of a well-endowed female was coming from a nearby alley. She glared at it a second before noticing that it had a IBM. "Oh?" She began to walk into the alley to see whatever was creating the shadow left leaving the IBM in the middle of the alley. She could tell already it was a trap. She approached anyway as the running came again this time however she was prepared and turned around punching her stalker in the face.
On the other end of Yang's fist stood a woman that wore a tight doctor's jacket. Her face was covered by a surgical mask. Completing the nurse theme was a nurse hat on the top though it was purple rather than red. Yang looked back at her attacker's jacket noticing a name tag covered by blood. On her back, she seemed to have a bone saw of sorts. Whoever this was she clearly was not friendly.
The mystery Nurse jumped back looking Yang over with her one red eye since the other was under a medical bandage as if it were an eye patch. "Intressting." The nurse spoke calm cold and clearly calculating. "You evidently are trained. This makes my job more difficult."
Yang glared at her not sure what to make of her. "Who are you?" She questioned keeping her guard up.
"No one special. I doubt your much into formalities based on the way you dress for school. So, I should keep this simple." Her tone while dark clearly was experienced in combat. Yang could tell it would be best to focus on taking her down fast. "I'm taking you." She simply responded.
Yang tilted her head confused as she slowly put her guard down as the nurse charged at her. She responded by ducking under the attack and counter with an uppercut to her shock a body bag was left in her place. She looked left and right for her before a sharp pain came to her side. Yang looked in confusion as she looked at the needle in her side. She looked around confused as to what happened. She then realized something burning under her skin. The same energy from the fight that she did earlier.
The Nurse struck Again into Yang's back. He sighed in annoyance as Yang reared her fist back at the woman. "Untrained, unfocussed, and hard to put down." She groaned as she took the hit sending her across the alley. She got up holding her arm even more annoyed "It's eighty-seven all over again. Maybe this time Brain Drain's counter measure won't screw up." She was not happy about Yang for some reason.
"Eighty-Seven?" Yang mumbled to herself before recalling what Carol had called herself back on Remnant when asking about life in the cities. "You know Carol?" She asked looking at her in confusion.
Before Yang got an answer, another dart hit her arm. She looked at it before falling to the ground. It was a very strong anesthetic. Before Yang passed out she saw the Nurse walk up to her. "My monsters are none of your business." She said while leaning down toward her. "But don't worry, Experiment Eighty-Nine. Experiment eighty-eight is to target your friend with the living hair before you get a chance to fight Marie."
With the rest of her energy depleted, Yang's world plummeted into a dark dreamless sleep.