Chapter 43, The Finals Begin.
Roman Torchwick was paced back and force in the office of the warehouse. His patients having run thin from the months waiting for the presence of Lothadare's military in the Kingdom to lessen. For Blake to call back with the location of the vault. But so far, there had been no word on her end on the whereabouts of the vault. She should have phoned them back by now. How long does it take for one of her skillset to find a secret vault?
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his pocket watch and opened it. This was to be the day that semesters would end and Lothadare would begin it's recruitment of the students. If there was a better time for her to call, it was now.
"What is taking her so long?" Torchwick said.
"She should have called us by now. Doesn't she know that time is money?"
Torchwick groaned, throwing his cane over his cane over his shoulders. From over the desk, Neo watched as her boss paced. Seeming worried at how angry and impatient he was. There were only few things that could make him this upset. Most notably, if he sensed there was mutiny among those he would go into business with. While the White fang did seem promising and a reliable partner, this recent scheme was making him question their resolve.
"I must say, Neo, I'm beginning to question these new partners of ours." He said, glancing to her.
"I knew there was something off about that Girl from the moment I laid eyes on her."
Neo smiled, nodded her head to him.
"Yes, first the cargo ship and now this. I wonder if she's really as Good as Adam said." Torchwich said.
"And if she is thinking about double crossing us, we may need to take more drastic measures."
It was right at that moment that Adam came storming into the office.
"Well, has she called yet?" Adam asked.
Torchwick turned to Adam, shaking his head.
"I think you "so called" Right hand might not be as loyal as you say." Torchwick insisted to him.
"What are you saying?" Adam asked.
"I'm saying, I think our little spy might have gone rouge." Torchwick insisted to him.
Adam glared at Torchwicks remark. He refused to believe it. There was no way that Blake would betray them. Not for one of the Kingdoms that had enslaved their people. He reached down and grabbed hold of the handle of his sword, drawing his sword. He placed his blade firmly to Torchwick's neck.
"What was that?!" He said.
Though despite the threat he implied, Torchwick remained unpraised. Rather standing his ground against him. He knew well that Adam saw it too. Despite his denial, he knew that there was something off about her. Adam stared back at him for a moment's time. Only for him lower his sword her to the side, conceding to what Torchwick had been saying. He shifted his eyes to the side, frowning as his grip over his sword tightened.
"Blake cannot betray us." He said.
"But regardless, we can't wait any longer. We need to strike."
Torchwick nodded his head in agreement.
"I agree but with the finals, it will be hard to infiltrate the Academy." He insisted to him.
"Especially when the King's guard and the Military itself will be there."
Adam then Grinned.
"Leave that to me." He said as he walked out of the office.
It was day of the final Trials. Pyrrha and her teammates walked along the path to the Stadium. Pyrrha glanced around the Academy courtyard, which appeared much busier then usual. Not just the other students, but even the public was here to witness the final trials. There were several food stands set up along the path. As well as some games and decorations. It almost seemed like a festival. Much like the festival of prosperity she was at long ago.
A common occurrence whenever the final Trials were being held.
"Check it out guys. Looks like the whole Kingdom here's to see us kick butt." Keith said, placing his hands over his side.
Pyrrha smiled, seeing all the decorations to the Courtyard.
"Wow, it looks just like a festival." Pyrrha insisted to them.
"Well, in a way it is." Auron insisted to her.
"The Final Trial is kind of like our graduation from the Academy."
Blake glanced to Pyrrha, curiously.
"You seem excited by that, Pyrrha." She said.
Pyrrha turned to her, smiling.
"Sorry." She said.
"It's just I haven't been to a festival since..."
Pyrrha then paused, thinking back to Arthamore.
"Since you know." She said, turning back to her.
Blake glanced to her, smiling, knowing well what Pyrrha was talking about. Though she couldn't say she shared the same sentiment as Pyrrha did for festivals. For she had never been to one before. Whatever thrills and enchantment that enthralled Pyrrha were all a mystery to her.
"I've... never been to one before." Blake said, glancing to the side.
Pyrrha glanced back at her, frowning.
"You've never been to one?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.
Blake shook her head.
"There was nothing to celebrate back where I come from." She said.
Auron nodded his head.
"Yeah, might as well kill some time before the tournament."
Pyrrha, for the first time time in so long, felt suddenly like how she was when she was little. When the Eagan had brought her to the Festival of Prosperity and when she and her mother would go to all those festivals in Arthamore. She couldn't couldn't contain her glee any longer and with some time to spare before they would have to report to the Colosseum, they might as well spend some time to check out some of the stands.
Not to mention, this would be the perfect opportunity to show Blake everything that she had been missing.
She turned back to Blake, taking her by the hand.
"Come on, Blake." She said, excitedly.
She then turned and pulled Blake along down the path.
"He, where are we going?" Blake said.
"Come on!" Pyrrha chuckled as they came up to one of the stands.
Qrow was staring down into the courtyard through the window of Rueben's office. He cupped his hand over his chin, fretting over what this day would bring. This was to be day was of celebration for the students of the Academy becoming true Knights of the Kingdom. But instead, it brought Qrow much contempt for what he knew would come after. He had dreading it all these years and now it was finally upon them.
"I have a bad feeling about this." He said.
"As do I, but we needn't allow ourselves to let our fears hinder us." The Headmaster proclaimed.
"We both know this is a crucial moment in her training."
The headmaster staggered behind his desk, where he sat down indo so his seat.
"If she is to follow in her predecessors footsteps, she will need to take the final." The Headmaster proclaimed to him.
Qrow shook his head to him.
"It's not the trial I'm worried about." He insisted to Reuben.
"I'm more concerned when she is seen by the Kingdom. When the military and the Royal Guard see her, they will learn the truth about her."
"Yes and I already have measures in place for when that happens." Headmaster Reuben insisted.
"I have already sent word to Leonardo Lionheart in Haven."
"Haven?" Qrow said.
"The Sanctuary in the Mountains of Kalisar? Why there?"
"The Sanctuary is remote, well hidden and the inhabitants there are natural from the war." The Headmaster insisted to Qrow.
"And it is where the sacred temple of Martanus lies. It should suffice in completing her training."
Qrow squinted their eyes to the Headmaster. After what had happened to Arthamore, a Sanctuary would be the last place he would consider hiding. Especially when Salem had ordered the attack on the Sanctuary. Proving that she was willing to attack any place who harbored the prodigy. Even with the Temple of Martanus there, the risk this places upon the people there is much too great.
"With all due respect, Reuben, hiding out in a sanctuary is out of the question." Qrow proclaimed to the Headmaster.
"Not with what happened to Arthamore. If the Grimm learn that we're there, they won't hesitate to attack and Salem has proven she can't be trusted."
The Headmaster nodded his head in agreement.
"Yes, but they are still unaware our your whereabouts. As long as that remains and with the spell over her, you should be safe from the Grim until it it time to reveal her."
Pyrrha continued to Show Blake the many wonders of the fair. The two were stand before the stand for Blast-a-Grimm, where they competed with each other as to see who could get the most amount of targets. Pyrrha was an excellent shot, blasting every one of the targets with precise aim. The years she had spent training to fire blasters had certainly come to prove themselves useful. Although, Blake's were also something to be admired as well.
Blake fired several shots at the targets, hitting them all at the very center of the Targets. Pyrrha glanced to her, smiling.
"Good shot, Blake." She said to her.
Blake turned to her. She smiled, glancing to the side, smiling.
"T-thanks." She said.
The two then went on to play some of the other games at the fair, each one they made into some friendly competition. Like the tossing of rings and the throwing balls at the tower of bottles. Though Pyrrha seemed more experienced with most of the games then Blake was, often winning at some of them. Yet she never let that fact go to her head. Rather she cheered Blake on and encouraged her to keep trying which Blake appreciated.
It was later on that they met up at Auron and the others at at one of the food stands. As Pyrrha and the others ordered some noddle's, Blake instead ordered a big bowl of fish which made her mouth water. Much to the confusion of the others.
Pyrrha tossed a ring over of the polls, wining the game.
"We have a winner." The man announced.
Pyrrha smiled as she glanced back at Blake, who nodded her head to her.
"Pick a prize, any Prize!" The Man said, gazing down at the counter.
Pyrrha glanced down at the counter. There were so many prizes to chose from. She couldn't decide which one she wanted. That was until one in particular. A Necklace of what appeared to a small light blue charm. A charm that was said to represent friendship.
She then glanced to Blake, knowing what she wanted.
"I'll take that one." Pyrrha said.
The man handed her the necklace. Blake came up next to her.
"That's a very nice Necklace, Pyrrha." Blake complemented.
Pyrrha turned back to her. With what was about to happen at the end of the finals, she wanted to give Blake something. So that they would remember all their time together. So that no matter where they went, they would always be the best of friends. She then turned and saw the stand selling Ice cream. She then gasped.
"Ice Cream, come on, Blake." She said, grabbing hold of Blake's hand.
Pyrrha and Blake were sitting over the Rooftop of the dorms, eating the ice cream they had gotten. The two of them were looking over the fair in the courtyard. Taking a bit of her ice cream, the young prodigy glanced to her, smiling.
"So... what do you think?" Pyrrha asked.
Blake glanced to her.
"About what?" She asked.
Pyrrha gestured her head down to the festival below. Blake in turned smiled back to her, glancing to the side. While she didn't show it, Blake enjoyed their time together at the fair. Especially with Pyrrha and all the people she had come to meet at the Academy. Though her expression spoke louder to the Prodigy then words could ever say.
Pyrrha turned, smiled as she looked back down over the Academy grounds. She then sighed.
"My mother and I used to go to the fairs back in Arthamore all the time when I was little." Pyrrha claimed to her.
"They used to be some of the happiest times we spent together. Sometimes, me and Jaune always compete with each other at some of the games."
"Let me guess, you would win most of the time." Blake joked with her.
Pyrrha glanced to the side, smiling. While she wouldn't say she win every game, she had certainly did most of the time.
"I suppose you could say that." Pyrrha insisted to her.
The two of them chuckle to each other. Though it was the moment that followed, as the two turned forward, Blakes eyes shifted to the side. As too did Pyrrha's. The two reflecting over the past. The smiles and laughter they once shared were replaced by a sorrowful frown. The Life she once lived in Arthmore with her family, though they felt like a lifetime ago, were ones she held close to her.
Ones she wished she could have again.
Blake on the other hand, pondering over the life she lived. The times Pyrrha has described about her family having been absent for most of her life. Having been an Orphan for most of her life, never knowing the parents that had abandoned her. Being indoctrinated into a group who sought to gain revenge against the other Kingdoms for the sins of the past. She had never know such times as Pyrrha had.
That was until now...
Pyrrha then glanced to Blake. She had wanted to wait until after the trial to do this. Only to then decided this was moment to do it.
"Blake?" She then said.
Blake glanced to her, curiously.
"Uh, yeah." she said.
"I know it hasn't been that long. But I want you to know that I'm really glad to have met you." Pyrrha insisted to her.
She then reached down to her side, pulling out the necklace she won at the fair.
"Here, I want you to have this." Pyrrha said.
Blake paused for a moment. Pyrrha strapped the necklace around her neck. Blake glanced down at the necklace, both wide and in awe.
"M-me?" Blake asked, glancing up at Pyrrha.
Pyrrha smiled nodded her head.
"There's a reason I chose this prize." Pyrrha insisted.
"It's because that blue crystal is meant to represent friendship. I want you to have it, so that no matter what happens, no matter where we go, we'll always be friends."
Blake glanced down at the necklace Pyrrha had given her. The light blue charm glistened in the sunlight. Hearing Pyrrha call her her friend had touched her deeply as tears flowed from here eyes. Never before having been shown such kindness before, let alone by a human.
She glanced up at Pyrrha, nodding her head to her.
"Thank you." she said.
Her eyes then narrowed.
"What is it?" Pyrrha asked.
Blake glanced up to her again. As Pyrrha had come to reveal the truth to her, she knew she must do the same. As much as was resistant to it.
"Pyrrha, there's something I have to tell you." Blake insisted to her.
Before she could get in another word, the two then heard a loud announcement from the intercoms.
"All students report to the colosseum for the final trial. I repeat, All students report to colosseum!"
Pyrrha glanced to her.
"It's starting!" Pyrrha said.
"We have to get our weapons from our lockers then meet up with the others. come on!"
Taking Blake's hand, the two then stood up and rushed to the stairway. Blake was both relieved, but also saddened that she was not able to tell. She would have to wait till after the trial. That was to say, if such an oppertunity to do so would been given.
Pyrrha opened her locker where she found Milo and Akouo stored inside. She pulled out her weapons, taking Milo in one hand and her shield in the other. She then paused for a moment, striking a pose. The one she used to do when she was little. This last trial was but a major step in her training to be a Knight of Opara. The moment she would finally complete her training in the basic skills and become a true Knight.
She then turned to Blake, who had sheaved Gambol Shroud over her back. She then turned to Pyrrha, where she saw her striking such a combat stance.
"What are you doing?" Blake asked, curiously.
Pyrrha smiled before she stood up.
"Sorry... I was just... preparing myself." Pyrrha insisted to her.
Blake raised an eyebrow to her.
"I always used to train with my father or mother back home. He would usually stand just like this." Pyrrha insisted to her.
"He told me that this was how a Knight of the house of Nikos usually stands in the face of the enemy. And It will be how I stand. And when I'm back home with him, I will fight by his side to protect the Realms."
Blake glanced to the side, hearing Pyrrha speaking so determined. Much like how she had once said long ago when she had joined the White Fang long ago. That she would fight to protect her people. Only to cause more death and disappear for the sake of making the Kingdom's fear the Faunus.
As Pyrrha placed both Milo and Akouo over her back, she then paused for a moment as she thought about how far they both had come.
"Well, this is it." Pyrrha said.
Blake glanced to her. She then nodded her head.
"Yeah, it's hard to believe." she said. closing her locker.
"I'm kind of nervous."
Pyrrha glanced to her, nodding in agreement. It all did seem quite intimidating. Though it was not as if she was not ready for the Trial itself. Her years of training had certainly prepared her for this very moment. Rather it was what was to follow that deeply concerned her. She would not be the Knight of this Kingdom and would be forced to leave to who knows where when this is all over. Leaving behind her Teammates and friends she had made here at the Academy.
Though she understood it was for the best, it did not take away how painful it would be.
"I know what you mean." Pyrrha insisted to her
"It does seem hard to believe that we've come this far. But we are here now and I'm glade to be facing it with all of you."
Blake glanced up to her, smiling. She then nodded her head to her.
"Yeah." she said.
"Well look who it is."
By the sound of that voice, one they knew too well, what was a moment between the two was then tarnished. Glancing back, they saw Cardin and his gang walking over to them.
"It's the Freak and her little friend." Cardin said as his gang erupted with laughter.
Both Pyrrha and Blake glanced back at Cardin and his gang, sternly. Neither of them amused by their teasing.
"What do you want, Cardin?" Blake asked.
"Just wanted to say, don't feel bad when you lose." Cardin said, mockingly.
"It's not like people like you belonged here anyway."
Blake only stared back at Cardin with the same stern expression. Shifting her glance away as she was reminded of Man's bigotry toward her people. Not that she would ever serve this Kingdom after all they had done. But to be reminded that there was no place for her here was all but painful and angering to hear.
Pyrrha came up next to her, placing her hand over Blake's shoulder.
"She belongs more in this Kingdom then you will ever, Cardin." Pyrrha proclaimed.
Cardin and his gang only laughed to him.
"Yeah, whatever." Cardin said.
"See you at the colosseum. Good luck. Not that it will do any good. Cause we're going to wipe the floor with all of you."
It was right at that moment that they heard the announcer come over the intercom.
"All students please report to the Colosseum. The Finals are about to begin."
Pyrrha glanced down at her once more.
"Come on, let's go." she said.
Blake nodded her head to her.
Pyrrha and Blake walked with the other students into the corridors of the colosseum. It was there they found Qrow along with Auron, Hanako and Keith waiting for them by the locker rooms doorway. Qrow turned to them.
"You made it." he said as he came up to them.
"You guys ready?" Auron asked.
Pyrrha glanced to Blake, who was looking off to the side with a stern expression. Her arms wrapped around herself. She placed her hand over her shoulder, in an act to comfort her friend. She then turned to Qrow.
"Yeah, we're ready." Pyrrha insisted to her.
"What is it?" Auron asked, noticing Blake's stern expression.
Pyrrha glanced to Blake, frowning.
"We ran into Cardin and his thugs back in the hallway." Pyrrha insisted to him.
"They seemed rather confident about their chances of winning the finals."
Auron glared at the mention of Cardin, who shifted his eyes to the side. Hanako came up next to him.
"Overconfidence will be their downfall." She stated to them.
"Its about time we had a run-in with those creeps." Keith proclaimed, slamming his fist into his other hand.
"I've been itching to teach them a lesson."
Pyrrha turned to them, nodding her head to them.
"We're in, as well." Pyrrha proclaimed to them
Pyrrha turned to Blake, nodding her head to her. Blake in turned glanced up to her, smiling back to her.
"Students of Lothadare Academy, take you place in the center of the Colosseum."
Upon hearing the announcer, Pyrrha and her teammates turned to face the entrance to the stadium. Qrow turned back to Pyrrha and her Teammates.
"You guys better get going." Qrow insisted to them.
"Alright guys, this is it." Auron proclaimed, reaching back to his blaster rifle.
"Get ready!"
Hanako, Blake and Keith each drew their weapons as they readied themselves. Pyrrha took a deep breath as she drew her weapons to her with her semblance. Qrow came up behind her.
"Hey, knock'em dead out there, Kid." Qrow said, giving her a light punch over her shoulder.
Pyrrha glanced back at Qrow, smiling.
"Thanks, Qrow." she said.
Turning forward, Pyrrha followed her Teammates as they walked out into the colosseum.