Chapter 8

Sun took a deep breath as Professor Port counted down. Each second felt like an eternity, as the countdown progressed his nerves began to build. It didn't help that his opponent kept that same insufferable smirk on his face the whole time.

What was their plan here? Did they gain more from a win or a loss? Would Emerald interfere? Would he know if she did? There were too many questions running through his head and not enough information to answer any.

Mercury Black. Specialises in close range, uses a primarily kick orientated fighting style. Based on his fight with Pyrrha before the tournament he's cocky and prone to underestimating his opponent.

Then the clock hit zero.

As the announcers called for the Battle to begin Sun rushed forward, meeting Mercury head-on. The silver-haired fighter opened with a high kick with Sun deflected with his staff to the side, he then used the momentum to bring the other end towards Mercury's head.

He ducked it and tried to sweep Sun's feet but the monkey Faunus jumped over it before responding with a jab to the knee of Mercury's outstretched leg.

Aura flared and they parted, taking a moment to reassess their situation.

The moment quickly passed and they rushed each other once more. Sun unleashed everything. Separating his weapon and letting loose with his gun-chucks. Mercury jumped backwards into a handstand and began to spin, not unlike a breakdancer would. His boots let loose a barrage of bullets.

Sun back-peddled, shifting his weapon back into a staff and using it to deflect the wave of projectiles. Mercury came charging in moments later, launching himself at Sun with a blast from his boots.

Sun dodged to the side and attempted to smash the back of Mercury's knee only to miss due to him gracefully rolling out of range.

Something's wrong… it doesn't feel like how he fought Yatsuhashi… I can't quite place what's off though.

The pair clashed once again. Unleashing attack after attack. Parry, attack, block, attack. It went on and on, each slowly chipping away against the other's Aura. As they were both bordering on the red, they parted and studied each other, each hoping to finish this soon.

Mercury fell into another breakdance like spin, sending numerous projectiles into the air and forming a tornado of bright white. Sun focused and created two golden clones and sent them rushing towards Mercury.

He had one shot to finish this.

The tornado moved, the individual blasts spiralling down towards him. Sun waited he kept focus on his clones. As they were closing in, Mercury jumped back onto his feet, cocky grin still in place.

His clones lunged and simultaneously swung their staffs into Mercury's head. He yelped in pain. Sun released his clones and jumped forward, attempting to dodge Mercury's many projectiles. He managed to dodge the majority of them, but a few still managed glancing blows.

He rolled with his momentum and sprung up with another flurry of attacks from his gun-chucks.

Mercury grunted in pain, back peddling away from the Faunus. Then he burst through the cloud of fire and dust formed by his shots. Sun cursed and jumped to the side, fumbling with his weapons for a moment before catching them. Mercury smirked and went for a roundhouse kick.

Sun opened fire.

The illusion broke.

Mercury screamed as Sun's shotgun blasted into his leg.

The crowd gasped and screamed in shock.

Mercury collapsed to the ground screaming.

But he… he was attacking me! He moved and… damn it! Sun stood there as several Huntsmen entered the arena and ordered him to stand down.

He complied. There wasn't anything else to do. Would they believe him? There was a chance. But did it matter? The damage was done.

Cinder had made her move and they hadn't been able to respond.

The crowd was angry as he left the stage and he couldn't blame them. As far as they could see, he had just mutilated a fellow competitor.

But why would they want him to actually hurt Mercury? Something didn't add up.

Ruby paced outside SSSN's dorm. Two Atlesian Knights stood guard and kept her from talking to her friends. After several minutes General Ironwood left the room and sighed when he saw her.

"Miss Rose. I recommend that you give them some privacy for now. This situation is complicated enough."

"I don't care if it makes things complicated. They're my friends, General." Ruby stood her ground. He shook his head looking slightly exasperated.

"Fine. Just keep it short. It's best if you aren't seen with them for a while, at least until things calm down." He must have seen her glare for he sighed again. He waved for the Knights to follow him and the trio left.

Ruby quickly knocked on the door and entered when Sage opened it.

"Sun!" He looked her way and ahead could see he'd had a rough time.

"Hey, Ruby…"

"It was her illusions wasn't it?"

"Yea. I didn't even realize I was under it until it broke. Everything looked and felt completely normal. I just saw Mercury attacking…" He looked down at the floor in defeat.

"There wasn't any clue she was using it when I was watching her in the stands… she looked a little more focused on the match than usual, but it was her teammate so it seemed normal. At least until you attacked after his Aura was broken." Ruby stepped up to Sun and patted his back.

"What did you do?"

"I kinda… spilled my soda all over her… it wasn't all an act either. I wasn't really expecting you to do that."

"They might be onto us then." Neptune whispered.

"Maybe." Ruby nodded. "I think I have a plan, but it's going to be dangerous."

"This whole situation is dangerous. We'll be fine." Scarlett said with a grin.

"Alright…"

"How are they?" Jaune asked as she returned to their dorm.

"They'll be ok. They're shaken but we learned something else about her Semblance. There isn't any tell for when she uses it. No sound or feeling or anything. You just have to try and figure out if it's fake or not."

"That won't be easy…" Ren said, his eyes furrowed in thought.

"So you mentioned you had a plan before you left for their dorm?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah. First of all, Pyrrha." The girl looked up in shock, having been pulled out of her own thoughts. "We can't and won't pressure you to take the power. It's not our place." Pyrrha nodded and Ruby could almost feel some of the tension leaving team JNPR.

"As for the plan. With Sun stuck in his room I've asked them all to remain in Beacon. When things go wrong they'll go to the CCT tower and protect it. If Cinder comes for them they are to prioritise their lives, even if it means letting her through." They all nodded at that.

"I've asked CFVY to stay in Beacon as well. We don't know the entirety of Cinder's plan but we know it centers around Beacon, that she wants the maiden and she has the White Fang in her pocket. CFVY will make sure whatever they try fails and then try to meet up with SSSN."

"So where does that leave us?" Ren asked with a raised brow.

"In Amity. Cinder's manipulating the matches to cause chaos so we can expect her to try again. Pyrrha has to be there for the tournament and Amity is the most likely spot for her to start the attack. They will likely do it through Emerald, so if we are there waiting we can take them down from the get-go. Then we chase down Cinder and engage her. Make enough of a fuss and draw the other Huntsmen over to help out."

"So fight enough to draw some professionals over?" Jaune said

"Yes. And then we kill her."

"And what if she makes it to Beacon? To the Maiden?" Pyrrha asked, still looking conflicted.

"We keep chasing. If she isn't on Amity we go straight for the Maiden. Keep her safe and Cinder will have to retreat eventually. Or else she'll be stuck between us, the professionals and the Generals army. I don't want her to escape, but the main goal is to keep her from the Maiden. We can always find her after."

"Without knowing what her plan is I think this might be the best we've got…" Jaune said, sparing a glance for Pyrrha. "We can do it."

"Then get ready. The singles round starts again tomorrow." They all prepared for bed. Tomorrow was a big day.

However, after everyone else had gone to sleep Ruby snuck out.

She had a call to make.

The scroll rang for a full minute before he picked up. Ruby tapped her foot in annoyance.

"Heya there Red! How's it going?"

"Hey there Uncle Wick. It's going well! Just wanted to ask you something."

"Well I'm listening, my dear niece. What's on your mind?"

"What do you plan to do after stopping your brother and his daughters from breaking things?"

"Leave the city and wait for your gift of course!"

"Speaking of the gift. It would be a lot easier to get if you helped out."

"Now that wouldn't make it much of a gift you know?"

Ruby growled lightly. Her patience growing thin. "Well I have to buy it from the store and they don't like you much, Uncle. If you made a good impression on them, they'd be far more helpful" she ground out

"What do you want me to do Red?" Torchwick asked, all pretences dropped.

"Use the warship to help us fight her."

"And risk myself? Sounds like something a foolish hero would do Red. I'm not that."

"You want a pardon, then work for it. Don't just stop someone from causing trouble, help us stop the trouble itself! Help me kill Cinder!"

"With what Red? Should I shoot at her? Ram the ship into her? Jump on over and fight alongside you in some heroic last stand? I. Won't."

Ruby growled as he hung up. Damn it!

But what had she really been hoping for? For him to change his ways and become some hero like her? No. She'd just wanted a little extra help.

But he wouldn't. Far too self-serving to go out of his way to stop Cinder.

She felt like throwing the scroll away but thought better of it. She might have a use for it and him later.

She returned to bed in an even worse mood than before.

Mercury groaned as he fell back onto the couch. It had taken him all day to repair the damage done to his legs after his fight with that damned monkey.

A part of him hoped he would get a rematch during the coming battle. It would feel pretty good to kill the bastard. Maybe he could break his legs and see how much he likes it.

He sighed, at least he didn't have to stay in the same room as Emerald tonight. He loved to tease her and all, but it had been months since he had a room to himself.

He would enjoy it while it lasted.

"I wonder what dreams you have…" Ozpin whispered to Amber, the girl still lying within the machine, just waiting for her soul to be siphoned into another.

He sometimes wondered if he had made the right choices. He had made so many over the years that of course some had been incorrect. But what about the Maidens?

Did he make the right decision? Four magical women to fight injustice. It was too bad the power could be inherited by those with ill intentions.

Or now, stolen.

How cruel a fate to be locked within one's own mind, unable to do anything. What would happen if Salem used such a technique on him? Could he resist? Would it even work?

He would have to make sure he died rather than be trapped in such a state.

"Soon Amber. Soon you shall be free. And I will have placed your burden on another. Will she resent me for it? Did you?" He sighed.

It was no use asking. She couldn't answer him. It was necessary as well. He could not allow Salem to have a Maiden in her service.

He walked back to the elevator. Something was about to happen. He felt it. James felt it. Glynda as well. Qrow knew something but wasn't telling. All Ozpin knew was that Qrow was working under the assumption something bad was about to happen.

Ozpin gripped his cane hard.

Whatever was coming, he would protect the people of Vale, even if it cost his life.

It wasn't like his life was that important anyway. He had died far too many times for him to feel like one life mattered.

This would just be another in a long, long line. He idly wondered what his next body would look like, and what poor soul would have to take on his burden.

A/N: A late chapter is late. Life does what it does and getting in the way. But I'm here with a new chapter! Sun sadly suffers a similar fate to Yang's here, but at least he knows how and why it happened and doesn't feel ostracized by his team *cough* Blake *cough*. And Ruby has a plan. A vague plan but a plan none-the-less.

I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!