"The first step to becoming a successful leader is knowing your team. If you are to lead, then first you must know what and who you are leading. Understanding people's personalities, skill sets and goals will allow you to utilise them to a greater efficiency. Combined with strong team dynamics, you can quickly form a seamless flow of work. Just be careful! Many people dislike being pried on, so data gathering should be as subtle as possible. When you have gathered data, you can start testing people in new roles."

Three days till rematch

"All right, our team building training starts today!" Ash paced back and forth in the sandpit like a drill instructor. The rest of AMBT acting as his unwilling recruits. "After our extensive research last night, I have decided on some tasks we will do." Ash stopped in front of his teammates. He set his face with an unusually serious nature. "Like…" His voice trailed off, but the look never left his face. After a minute, he had only licked his lips. After two more minutes, suspicions arose.

"You didn't write any of them down like we said, did you?" Tidus asked, sighing and crossing his hands in front of his chest.

"Well no. But that's because I can remember it!" Ash was growing more flustered the more his memory failed him. It was fine. He was in control. All he needed to do was remember. They were in the library, looking through books. There was that one book that had lots of tasks in it. If he could just remember the name…

Kai broke his train of thought when he stepped forward and cleared his throat. He pulled a notebook from within his armour, turning it to a page and handing it to Ash. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he received it. At least he could count on Kai with this sort of thing. He looked down at the page and found an unexpectedly colourful drawing. A man with a crocodile mask and crown. He gave Kai a confused stare. "Umm. Am I supposed to be looking at King Krok? Like he's a cool wrestler and all…"

Kai's stone face broke in surprise, a redness rushing to his ears. He blinked a few times and looked over at the page before hastily flipping it. The silver-haired man composed himself and gestured for Ash to continue reading. The text now made a lot more sense, with a list of tasks written with Kai's intricate penmanship. Ash struggled with the cursive but skimmed through before handing the notebook back. Then proceeded with his speech like he didn't just have Kai come and bail him out.

"Our first team task will be an Ice breaker." He announced proudly. A series of groans left Tidus and Jett. "We'll go around and give our names, semblance, goals, and hobbies. Who wants to go first?" Stares of disdain met Ash's hopeful smile.

Tidus turned to Jett. "You know, if you're still changing teams, I'll go with you."

"Like hell. If I'm changing teams, it's so I can get away from all three of you." Jett wasn't even trying to hide his contempt for the team. He would rather spend the rest of his time sulking than doing this. Any hopes he had of reintegrating himself into Shade Academy were being destroyed each passing second he spent with them.

But Ash was persistent. He knew it was his job as leader to pull his team from this slump they were in, so he gathered himself and mustered a voice of authority. "Ok, if nobody wants to start, I will. My name is Asher Novis seventeen years old and sole heir to Councillor Novis." He held a hand to his heart. "The flame of ambition is my semblance, giving me the ability to bend fire to my will." He turned with a theatrical spin to look at the sunrise. Raising his hand to the sun as he spoke. "My goal is to become the greatest huntsmen Vacuo has ever seen, to unite its people and restore the glory our kingdom once had." He was quieter than usual as he stared out into the sky. The sun acting like an ethereal halo that surrounded his whole body. He almost seemed serious. But only for a second. When he turned around, his goofy smile and energetic voice broke the illusion. "I enjoy training, fighting, action movies and wrestling."

Both Tidus and Jett stared at him with blank expressions. Maybe the heartfelt monologue would have gone down better if anyone but Ash were giving it. Kai took to giving it a polite clap. "Thank you, thank you," Ash said, bowing. "Now, who wants to go next?"

Tidus pointed to Jett, and Jett pointed at Tidus. Luckily for them, Kai spoke up. "I will go next." He cleared his throat before speaking. "My name is Kai Blackwood, graduate of Oscuro combat school specialising in swords. Seventeen years of age, 6 feet tall, blood type B positive and an IQ of hundred and thirty. My semblance allows me to manipulate and control the wind. I-"

"Wait, we need a name for your semblance." Ash said.

"Like a codename? Is that really necessary?" Kai asked with a confused look.

"Yes, it is absolutely necessary. Being cool is one of the four cornerstones of being a huntsman, and that means cool names for everything that you do." Ash somehow seemed more serious about this than his grandiose speech.

"And what are the other three cornerstones?"

"You shouldn't have asked that," Jett chimed in.

Ash told them anyway. "The four cornerstones are coolness, skill, killing Grimm and protecting the innocent."

"Wait, but two of those are qualities and the other two are actions."

Jett turned to Tidus and sighed. "You don't think I've pointed that out to him before?"

Ash continued his humming as he tried to think of a name, undeterred by their lack of conviction in his cornerstones. The truth being that he was the only one who even bothered to give his semblance a name. "I've got it! Slicing Gale. Because you swing your sword whenever you do it." He gave a demonstration with his own invisible sword. Providing some whooshing sound effects to go with it.

The other three still couldn't wrap their heads around the fact this was their leader. They agreed just so they could move on and Kai could continue. "My goal is to become a successful military strategist or teacher like my instructor once was. I enjoy reading, writing, drawing, puzzles and cooking. Along with other assorted tasks."

"Does other assorted tasks include certain crocodile based wrestlers?" Tidus asked, jabbing an elbow into the man's side.

Kai's ears went red again. "I do like wrestling as well, I suppose."

"Hey don't sweat it. Everybody in Vacuo enjoys wrestling." Tidus gave Kai a pat on the shoulder.

Jett was less sympathetic. "But it would embarrass me too if my favourite wrestler was King Krok."

"Well, Jett, since we already know one of your hobbies. How about you go next?"

The grin on Jett's face fell for a second before he recomposed himself. "Fine, I'll give my stupid little alcoholics anonymous introduction. Jett Masters, seventeen. My semblance," he thought for a second. "lets call it power grab, allows me to absorb and use certain elements." Tidus opened his mouth to ask what an 'element,' actually defined. "Don't know all the elements I can use, so don't ask." Tidus shut his mouth. "My goals, become famous and filthy rich. Hobbies are engineering and girls. Actually, correct that, hot girls."

"Very noble of you." Tidus said dryly.

"Yeah? Let's hear yours then."

Tidus gave a small sigh. "Tidus Raijin, seventeen years old. My semblance, uh… want to give it a name, Ash?"

"Give me a brief rundown, and I'll give you something."

"Well, it activates after a while and I get continuously stronger the longer it goes on." Tidus stopped before adding on. "Also, there's lightning. I'm not sure if it actually does anything."

Ash took in the explanation, thoughtfully stroking his chin like a sage. "We shall call it Growing Storm."

"Works for me. My hobbies are sleeping, music and, I guess, gardening."

"Wow riveting hobbies, man." Jett said, while slow clapping. "Half of them are just you existing as a regular human."

"Says the guy who listed 'hot girls' as a hobby."

Jett rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Are your goals going to be any better than your hobbies?"

Tidus paused as he thought it over for a second. This question seemed to be constantly unavoidable. "To get stronger than my brother?"

"You don't sound too sure about that."

Before Jett could pressure any further, Ash spoke up. The answer was enough for him, at least.

"Ok, our first team building exercise is complete. I hope you wrote all that down, Kai." The two bickering men's heads snapped to Kai, who looked up from writing in his notebook and nodded. Tidus and Jett were a bit mortified about the fact he had been keeping a record of the whole thing. "Good, because I was counting on it. Now, do you feel the team spirit building?"

"No," Both Tidus and Jett said unenthusiastically.

"See, you two are already in sync!" Ash punched his fist into his hand. "Now our next task will be a motto run. Whatever I say, you guys repeat." He didn't give them a chance to question what a motto run was before he was already going. The three others moving in behind him before the horrible realisation set in.

"Repeat after me! WE ARE AMBT!"

That evening, Ash was once again pacing back and forth in front of his team. The morning's training had been a resounding success. He had led the team marching through the streets while proudly belting out the glory they would achieve. It had only got them ten or twenty strange looks. Now it was time for the next phase. He had his newly appointed strategist, Kai, prepare comprehensive character breakdowns for each of them. Based on the information from the morning and other observations he had made. The statics neatly printed and photocopied in an assortment of every graph under the sun. You wanted the individual statistics? Kai had it laid out on a radar graph. Now you wanted a comparison? Kai had bar charts comparing each member with each different stat. Psychological breakdown? It was there. Accurate weight and body fat percentages? Don't ask how he got them, but they were there.

"Dude, what the fuck is this? A five out of ten in teamwork? And I do not have anger management issues." Jett slapped the piece of paper with his face printed on it. Ironically, getting a little angry.

"You think that's bad? I got a speed of three and a work ethic of four." Tidus scrunched his face as he looked closer at his picture. It looked like a mugshot. And he was sure he didn't look that ugly. Did he?

"I assure you that everything I have recorded is to the highest accuracy I could achieve." Kai looked at his own sheet of paper and frowned when he realised he had only given himself a nine out of ten in intelligence. "However, they could be subject to change."

Ash smiled as he watched his team. Kai had truly outdone himself, but the character breakdowns weren't the important part. The book he held was what really mattered. Every single formation and procedure Kai had ever learnt at Oscuro, neatly drawn for Ash to study. He would use this like a coach used his playbook. Assigning roles and calling out positions like a badass strike commander.

"Our morning training was a complete success, so I want everyone to give themselves a pat on the back. Now we are going to put that data and team spirit into practice. Tonight we are running drills on combination attacks and strategies!"

"Quick question. Why are we in the park?" Jett had to duck to dodge a low-flying frisbee. "Because if we're doing this here, I'm out. I've already lost enough dignity."

"Now I knew this would trouble you. Unfortunately, the Sandpit is in use. So we're doing this here."

"I swear I am-"

"But do not worry. You will be key to this practice. You are our most versatile fighter, so you will take centre stage as our most valuable member." Ash knew all the correct things to say to get his long-time friend to stick around. Play to his ego and you could get Jett to do just about anything.

The first formation was E568. What that meant, Ash had no clue. When he asked Kai, he also didn't know. But all that mattered was the diagram Kai had drawn looked cool as fuck, so the strategy had to be effective. Tidus and Jett moved into position. Jett stood further away while Tidus posed in the centre to give a leg up. Many people in the park stopping what they were doing to watch. It was now or never. Jett sprinted towards the taller man, stepping into the conjoined hands. When he did, Tidus launched him over his head. With a bit too much gusto, it would seem. Tidus stumbled backwards after putting too much force into the launch and fell over. Meanwhile, Jett flew far over the wooden target Ash had set up. Falling outside the bounds of the park and eliciting shrill screams from some unsuspecting people he had probably crashed into.

Ash couldn't help but recoil at the sound. "Ooh. Jett?! You ok buddy?!"

"ASH YOU MOTHER FUCKER!"

Well, at least he was alive. "Ok Jett is fine! Time to run it back!"

Formation F875 ended with Tidus head first in the sand and Kai through a coffee shop window.

Ash wasn't worried, it was just a minor setback. "Ok, we run it back!"

Formation M907 had Ash destroy an elderly couple's picnic and Jett receive first-degree burns.

Not ideal, but he could get them to work around it. "Ok, we run it back!"

Formation B673 left Tidus in a crater on a roof and Ash hanging by his boxers in a tree.

Maybe the wedgie was a little painful, but there was one more to try. "Ok, we run it back!"

Formation D3ATH was such a failure that it got them banned from the park all together. The message that was sent to Shade simply stated, "For the safety and conservation of Vacuo's ecological sites and its people. Do not allow this team to return under any circumstances. Please and thank you."

"Step two: Lead your way. There is no one correct way to lead, there is only your way. Every leader is different, and it is important that you have your own unique way. Show your team what you provide that others do not and why your leadership differs from the rest. Innovate and do not be afraid to tread the road less travelled. Just remember, you are the one in control."

Two days till rematch

Ash looked out their dormitory windows in annoyance. An ill timed sandstorm meant there wouldn't be any training outside this morning. Usually the walls protected the courtyards, but it appeared nothing would stop this sandstorm. That also meant the students got the benefit of missing out on weapon training and a few hours off. A nice reprise if the rooms had been bigger than cupboards and they weren't all forced to sit in the common room. All three teams rather uncomfortably sat in their own corners to avoid talking with each other. Jett, in particular, sat on his own browsing his scroll.

Ash frowned as he thought of a way to face his current conundrum. Even if he acted it, he wasn't completely blind to the current discourse in his team. He had hoped it would blow over, but it appeared Jett was determined to hold this grudge. As team leader and Jett's oldest friend, he knew he could fix this. So that's exactly what he would do. He sat across from his long-time friend and waited for him to acknowledge his existence. Jett played ignorant and kept browsing.

Ash's patience was quick to give in. "How's your day been?" Jett didn't even look up from his scroll. "Because I've got a brilliant idea for tonight's training."

Jett finally looked up. Fixing Ash with a blank stare. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to my old buddy. Is there anything wrong with that?" Jett raised an eyebrow, knowing Ash was still hiding something. "And my scroll still needs fixing."

Jett sighed and held out his hand so Ash could hand him the destroyed object. He lowered his goggles and got to work examining the device. Ash knew the inner workings of Jett's mind more than the faunus thought. Having something to tinker with would help keep his mind off his less than ideal predicament. With Jett now buttered up, Ash tried to move the conversation forward. "So how've you found Shade so far?"

"Take a wild guess."

Ash didn't see Jett roll his eyes under the goggles. "You're enjoying it? That's good to here." An awkward silence followed as Jett continued to tinker away. "Hey do you remember that time when you got stuck in the back of that truck and I thought you were being kidnapped?" Ash laughed when he watched Jett pause, his face scrunching up in remembrance.

"Yeah, I remember." He used a more force than necessary to bend the scroll back into shape. "I was in there because you said my tools might be inside." Jett had tried to erase the event from his memory. It had happened some years back. The two had been hanging out like they usually did and stumbled across some old tech. The catalyst to their whole adventure and, in hindsight, a lot more effort than it was worth. Like seriously, who made egg timers that looked like that? When they had gone to find his tools to deconstruct it, they were missing. Some other kids had taken them for a silly game, but with the risk of Jett's wrath, they lied and told him someone else had taken them. After a long breadcrumb trail to nowhere, Ash had the spectacular idea that they could be in the back of a random van. And Jett believed him. They both received a stern talking too after Ash had blown the doors off to get him out.

"All that to deconstruct an egg timer." Ash's face lit up again. "Or that time we went wading in that trash heap to find Summer."

This time Jett could only muster up a sigh. Ash was really digging up adventures he'd rather forget. Especially how he smelled for the following week. "What are you trying to get at?"

Ash stood and moved to sit next to Jett. "Listen, what I'm trying to say is, when have I ever steered you wrong?"

Jett frowned when he came over and tried to refocus on the scroll. "Every single event you just listed happened because you steered me wrong."

"That is true. But I also solved all of them." Jett gave him the stink eye. "I know you're pretty pissed and you dislike our teammates and the training."

Jett dropped the scroll and said, "I hate the training."

Ash threw a hand over Jett's shoulder to pull the blonde closer. "But I know I can make this work and I need my right-hand man to be all in on this."

"…"

"C'mon man, bros for life?" Ash offered his fist.

At last Jett sighed and cracked a smile. "Fine bros for life." He fist bumped Ash before the two started an elaborate secret handshake. "But if my reputation takes a permanent hit by the end of this week. You're a dead man."

Ash ignored the last comment, slapping Jett on the back. "Alright, I knew I could count on you."

Jett turned back to busy himself with Ash's scroll. "But if this is going to work, you need to fix the other two."

"Fix the other two?" Ash said in confusion.

Jett made a slight gesture to their other two teammates. Tidus and Kai sat in a corner with a chess set between them. Tidus' face was tense as he watched the board, his headphones blaring out metal music barely audible to everyone else in the room. Meanwhile, Kai's face was a similar impassive visage. In fact, he looked more relaxed than usual. "I mean, they both seem like cool dudes, but Kai has a rod up his ass and I swear Tidus doesn't kick it up past second gear."

"Don't worry, I'll figure it out." Ash was the picture of relaxation now that Jett was back in a favourable mood.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I trust you." Jett handed Ash's now repaired scroll back to him.

"Nice!" Ash decided he would try to push his luck. "Now what do you say to making up with NDGO?"

Jett's answer was immediate. "That only happens after we trounce them in our rematch."

"Fair enough. What about teaching Tidus and Kai our secret handshake?" The two looked back over to find Tidus looking down at the board in confusion over his loss.

Jett thought it over for a second. "After we win the rematch."

"All right, tonight we are taking a break from the formations." A welcomed decision for the team considering how poorly it went yesterday. "So we're this outing is to build more team cohesion." It was night now, and the team was out on the streets of Vacuo. If you could call them streets. It was more a web of interconnected sand roads than anything else. Street lights were sparse and sat at different levels from sinking into the ground. The one upside being that the lack of light pollution afforded quite a beautiful night sky.

The team came to a stop at a rather run down looking door. A gruff, tattooed man stood in front, acting as a bouncer. Ash went to speak to the man while the other three looked at each other in confusion. After a brief talk, he came back.

"No weapons. We gotta hand our gear over before we go."

A disgruntled grunt from Jett was the only response as they removed their weapons and handed them over.

"That's a one of a kind piece. Better be spotless when I get it back." The bouncer and Jett shared a glare before he went inside.

"I ask that you take the utmost care of my weapon." The bouncer only grunted as he took Kai's sword.

Tidus stopped when the bouncer held out an expectant hand. "Only one hand? It's heavy. You should probably use two." The bouncer shot him a death stare. "Or not." Tidus casually handed him the halberd, smiling when the bouncer's frame dropped slightly when he held the full weight.

The door lead to a narrow downward staircase. Industrial lights produced a dim glow from the ceiling, highlighting the many posters piled on the exposed brick walls. Each one highlighting a thrilling match up from years past. Sounds of loud music and a roaring crowd grew closer as they closed in on the bottom. Jett was being put on edge as everything grew louder and louder. Before long having to cover his sensitive ears with a glowing blue aura. When they reached the bottom, they came to a new door that Ash opened. The second he did, a wave of vibrations hit them. The base from the rock and roll was so loud it shook their rib cages.

The room they entered was a large underground arena. Stands overlooked a sunken gladiatorial pit filled with sand where two muscular men stood locked in hand to hand combat. One man slammed the other into the ground, earning a flash on the overhead screen that displayed their aura status. A countdown began as the man stayed pinned until the announcers shouted out the other combatant's victory, earning a cheer from the crowd. Bright lights and pyrotechnics flashed all around as the victor celebrated. The group weaved their way through the crowd to get a better look at the fight pit.

"So what, we came here to watch the wrestling?" Tidus had to shout directly into Ash's ear to be heard.

"Nope! We're going to be the main event!"

Both Tidus and Kai stood, flabbergasted. It was official. Ash had lost his mind. It was one thing to compete in wrestling, but this was an unsanctioned event. The type that played it loose on the rules. Jett would have had a few choice words to say if he could understand anything Ash had said. Right now, his hearing was the equivalent of being submerged in water.

Their attentions switched when a muscular blonde pixie cut woman appeared behind Ash. She was built like a tank, and only stood a few inches shorter than Tidus. The black sports bra and hot pants she wore emphasising every rippling muscle. Jett was already at her side, his mouth moving, but his words drowned out by the loud sounds. Regardless if she could hear him or not, she ignored him and took to appraising the team.

She pointed to them and said, "Are you guys my enhancement talent for tonight?"

"Umm yeah, that's us," Ash said. It surprised him how easily she had picked them out.

"Good, follow me."

The crowd practically split for the woman as she lead them to a staff door. Each person staring in admiration and shouting their praises for her. She lead the team through the staff door into a drab industrial corridor. The sound had died down now, letting them hear her more clearly. A welcome reprieve for the senses compared to the brief time they had spent in the main chamber.

"So you guys are the replacements." She turned around to give them a once over again. "You look a little green behind the ears."

"Don't worry, we are professionals. I promise you have nothing to worry about," Ash said, giving her a confident grin.

"Tell me, have you even grown a beard yet?"

The question left Ash opening and closing his mouth dumbly. The obvious answer had him questioning if this was a trick question or not. Turns out he was too slow for the yes or no question.

"Typical. Talent would give me replacements as green as you guys," she said with disdain. They came to a stop outside a rundown door. "Give me a second."

When she left to search an office, Jett earned himself a slap on the back of the head from Kai for staring too intensely at the woman's behind. Tidus had to agree. If you were going to stare, don't get caught. Before Jett could complain, she came back with a key in hand and unlocked the room before ushering them in. The inside was much more inviting than the outside. A dressing room complete with mirrors and comfy looking chairs. The woman took to rummaging through a rack before she pulled out four sets of clothes. Although calling them clothes was rather generous. Spandex underwear, masks and boots were more akin to gimp gear than anything else. She dumped them on the floor in front of the team and looked at them expectantly.

"Well? Get ready. You're up right after the current match."

The four looked at each other before Ash eagerly started picking out his attire from the pile. This was more than a dream come true for him. Ever since he was a boy, he had looked up to the amazing feats of strength and theatrics achieved in the sport. And now he would actually get to do it himself. Tidus and Kai followed him tentatively to the clothes pile. Jett still stood dumbly, looking between his teammates and the woman in the doorway.

The woman suddenly pointed at him. "And you, I don't know why your ears or glowing but quit staring at my ass and start changing." Jett blinked a few times as the woman's mouth moved and a series of muffled noises came out.

"Umm… I know I'm the greatest and I love you too?" Jett said with a raised eyebrow.

She blinked in confusion. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"Oh, he…" Ash struggled to think of an excuse. The woman looked like she would create a new orifice for Jett to hear through, if there wasn't an explanation soon.

"He has a hearing impairment?" The woman looked down at Tidus with a quizzical look. "I mean, he has a hearing impairment." He said it with more confidence this time.

"Then translate what I want to him!"

Ash gave a nod before going over and guiding Jett to the pile of clothes. "Yo man, who's the chick in black? She's super hot." Jett had probably intended to whisper that, but his sense of volume was slightly skewed right now. Ash hurried him to the pile to get him some clothes. Turning around briefly to give the scowling woman a nervous smile.

Kai had finished picking out an outfit now and went to change. He looked at the woman in the doorway. "I must ask that you give me some privacy so I may change."

She wrinkled her nose at the command. "Why? You a virgin or something."

Kai gave a nod. "I am indeed, but that is beside the point. I simply believe it is inappropriate for someone to watch me change when I don't even know their name."

The woman gave a few owlish blinks. She wasn't expecting that much of a coherent response. She gave an annoyed grunt. What a weird bunch she had ended up with. Before she left she decided to give them the courtesy of her name. "You will call me Scorpion Queen."