A/N:Sorry for the wait! I've been busy with life lately. But I have a few chapters in the bank so expect less long of a wait.

Anyway, here's the latest chapter! Weiss and Chief are going to duke it out with Harriet. Now most stories usually have Chief blams through his opponents but Harriet won't be a total pushover, like you might expect, but it'll still be plenty epic.

I do think Chief could take down most huntsmen without much difficulty, but a one-sided victory wouldn't make for a very interesting story

Then Aura is also very tricky to gauge as its durability always comes into question. Sometimes characters are built like a tank, other times it seems all it takes is a sneeze. So hopefully I found a good in-between.

Finally, I threw in a cool move for Harriet that isn't in the show, but I felt it would make the fight more interesting.

Hope you enjoy.

As the Master Chief looked out from the balcony of Atlas Academy, his eyes locked on the two Atlastian airships hauling away the remnants of the destroyed Forward Unto Dawn. The crisp morning air was filled with the sound of the propellers as the Manta's escorting the ships made their way through the sky.

The sound of someone approaching alerted him to General Ironwood's presence. He wheeled around and gave a sharp salute. "Sir!"

Ironwood walked past him to lean against the balcony railing, looking out at the ships as they flew out of the city's skyline. "At ease, Spartan. There's no need for all of that."

"Yes, sir," John replied, lowering his hand.

"It's difficult to comprehend that your world is rife with ships of such grandeur. What I wouldn't give to possess even just one of these vessels " the general said, admiring the ships that were now far beyond their reach. "The things we could accomplish."

The Chief turns to him. "Did you manage to sway the other council members, sir?"

"The majority of them, yes." He said, turning his head towards him. "The others still need a little convincing.

Ironwood flashed a devilish smile. "Is Cortana active?"

The Master Chief's speakers crackled to life, and Cortana's voice filled the air. "I am always standing by, sir."

General Ironwood let out a soft laugh. "Good. This is going to take some getting used to."

"I don't doubt it, sir."

"Well," he sighed, turning to walk back into the Academy with the Chief trailing behind. "Thanks to Cortana's forged documents, most of my fellow councilors were convinced that you're just a huntsman trying out some new armor. They even bought the story that Forward Unto Dawn was a malfunctioning satellite launch."

"So we're in the clear General?"Cortana questions.

The Master Chief remained silent, listening intently to the General."So the only loose ends are the people you saved on your arrival, but from what I understand, none of them were aware of the full extent of your origins, correct?"

"Correct." the Chief replied.

"Then it's settled," Ironwood concluded, extending a hand to the Master Chief, who shook it. "Welcome to Remnant, Spartan."

The Chief gave a nod. "Thank you, sir. It will be an honor to fight alongside your forces."

Ironwood laughed heartily. "That's good to hear Chief, Ironwood's eyes brighten as he remembers something important. "Oh right! I have something to show you."

The General leads the Master Chief through the academy and up to a secluded hallway, the walls lined with various paintings, medals, and trophies. He stops in front of one of the paintings where a secret passageway reveals itself.

"After you, Chief." the General says, gesturing for him to enter.

The Master Chief walks inside the passage, and as he steps onto a platform in the center, it lights up, revealing a hidden armory.

SMGs, assault rifles, battle rifles, plasma and frag grenades, and Covenant weapons like needlers and beam rifles are present. Additionally, there are two M41 SPNKr rocket launchers and one M 6/R Spartan laser. "These are all the weapons we found around the crash site that weren't damaged."

Walking to the wall The Master Chief picks up BR55 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle and examines it.

"You're free to take whatever you want. Consider it belongs to you," Ironwood clasped his hands together. "I'd like to express my gratitude for allowing my forces to take a look at the weapons that weren't able to make it through the crash."

"This is fine, General. Thank you." the Chief replies, loading the weapon and slinging it over his shoulder.

James strides over to a weapons rack and grabs a needler, taking a moment to study the strange alien gun. "I'm sure my research team can study and replicate some of this UNSC equipment. But the Covenant weapons...well, that's a whole different can of worms." Placing the needler back on the rack Ironwood turns to Chief. "Now switching gears. How are you feeling about the upcoming spar, nervous?"

"Nervous?!" Weiss moved to and fro as she exclaimed in a voice laden with anxiety, "No doubt I'm feeling jittery! My whole future relies upon me besting an Ace Ops member and my companion is a giant man wearing armor from a different world!"

Winter's arms crossed, her lips curled into a smile while she watched her sister freak out over the imminent test. She strolled over to her sister, Weiss, and placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Weiss, it's alright. Just take a deep breath and relax."

The younger Schnee follows Winter's advice and inhales deeply. The older woman smiles gently at her."I'm sure, based on what Clover said about your performance last night, that you'll be fine. All you need to do is remember the lessons you've learned from Beacon and apply them here."

Weiss' eyes darted to the ground. "I know but...this is my last opportunity to get away from Father. I don't want to mess it up."

Face softens in understanding, Winter offers her a comforting hug. "I understand better than anybody what you're going through," she replies gently. "But as you said, you won't be facing Harriet on your own."

Winter was right she wouldn't be alone but how well would she and this Master chief work well together?

"With all due respect, Captain, I can handle this alone."

As Clover and Harriet walked down the hallways, he let out a heavy sigh and glanced at his subordinate.

"Harriet, I'm sure you can take care of yourself." he said, "But you were on the Manta with us when the Master Chief cut through all those Grimm."

His words caused her to roll her eyes. "Anyone of the Ace Ops could have done that, Marrow included." she asserted.

Clover shook his head. "If you had seen the footage Cortana showed us, you wouldn't be so dismissive about this."

As they stride towards the training ground he carries on the conversation. "That's why you'll have a team of Atlesian knights to back you up, even if you insist on handling this alone."

Harriet huffs in displeasure. "Okay, but I don't understand why this is such a big deal. An academy dropout and some guy with armor, I highly doubt they'll be able to work well together."

As she walked toward the arena, Weiss inhaled deeply when she saw her teammate standing at its center. She approached cautiously, wishing for the test to go as smoothly as possible. As she drew closer, her steps became more measured and anxious.

Finally, near him, Weiss clears her throat. "Uhh excuse me, Master Chief?"

As he turned to face her, Weiss felt a ripple of unease course through her. His golden visor seemed to bore into her soul, almost as if he could see her innermost thoughts and fears. Still, she steeled her nerves and spoke, refusing to let her fear overpower her. "I thought I'd properly introduce myself. I am Wei-"

Cut off from her introduction, Weiss was suddenly thrown off guard as the AI construct Cortana materialized in Chief's hand. Her voice clear and concise, "Weiss Schnee. Heiress of the Schnee Dust Company; second child of three from Willow and Jacques Schnee; formerly attended Beacon Academy where she was part of Team RWBY before the academy's unfortunate destruction. Did I miss anything?" The construct seemed to be waiting as though expecting an answer from Weiss

"Well," Weiss said, taken aback by the information that had been relayed to her."How did you-"

"The Council and Atlas Academy have access to the records of all active huntsmen and huntresses, and students, including your own," Cortana explains.

Weiss blinks as she tries to process the quick, dismissive summary of her background. "Well, if we're going to get into details," she starts, clearing her throat. "I'm actually a former heiress."

"I see." Shrugging her shoulders, Weiss is taken aback by Cortana's brief acknowledgment before the AI quickly pivots her attention to Master Chief. "What can I say?" Cortana's tone shifts to one of casual dismissal. "Her title wasn't updated on file yet."

As Weiss crosses her arms and stares at the AI, she takes a deep breath before asking, "And what else does that file say about me?" She waits for Cortana's response, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Hmm let's see," bringing up the hologram Cortana scans the file. "You sound like a gifted student," Cortana nods, studying the file's contents. "Your attendance record is exceptional, and Myrtenaster - a fascinating weapon, one of a kind."

Weiss' face lights up in pride upon hearing her own accomplishments summarized so succinctly. She can't help but smile, a look of smug self-satisfaction in her blue eyes. "Yes, I've worked very hard to get where I am now," she says, her voice filled with confidence. But that enthusiasm soon vanished as Cortana continued.

"However, there's a lot that could have been improved. Your team experienced difficulty adhering to many of the rules. Your marks in combat class and physical education were mediocre at best. The report states you were quite stubborn and often refused to collaborate with your teammates."

Cortana's words caused Weiss to grit her teeth in anger."Now hold on a minute-"

Cortana continued, "Furthermore, I noticed some rather concerning trends when it came to your mental health. You struggled to make friends and form connections, and the reports stated that you displayed signs of severe depression, anxiety, and loneliness."

"Cortana, that's enough." the Master Chief spoke, his voice firm and resolute.

"I… I…" Weiss hesitated, feeling the heat rising in her face both out of embarrassment and anger. She was about to snap at Cortana's words but remembered why she was there in the first place. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Opening her eyes she gazes at the pair, clearing her throat. "This test is really important to me, so I came early to see if you could spare some time to discuss our approach."

Looking up at Chief, Cortana smiles as her eyes go back to Weiss. "We would be delighted to. With all of you Huntsmen having unique talents, this will help us utilize our teamwork better. Ms. Schnee."

Weiss exhaled, not realizing she had been holding her breath. While Cortana was a bit abrasive, these people were willing to cooperate. It was a welcome change from how she was used to being treated because of her status.

"Thank you. Well, I should start by explaining what my semblance is in greater detail, you see…."

Weiss And Chief stood in the center of the training ground. With Harriet on the other side, the rest of the Ace Operatives were watching from the bleachers. While Ironwood, Clover, and Winter stood inside the ate a control tower above, overseeing the entire ordeal.

Weiss cleared her throat."Shall we begin?"

Chief gives her a single nod.

Harriet's eyes narrowed, and took a step forward, cracking her knuckles. as she studied the Chief's imposing figure, trying to find any openings. As a group ofAtlesian knights were dropped off and the countdown began, her body tensed, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Three.

"Two.

"One.

"Begin!"

The armor-clad knights lurched forward towards Chief and Weiss, their metal plates clanking against one another. Chief and Weiss both took ready stances in response, preparing for the imminent battle.

Back in the control tower, Ironwood gave Clover a single, subtle nod, returning the nod before pressing a large green button on his console.

Immediately, the floor beneath Chief and Weiss began to tremble, and metal columns started rising from the ground, transforming the once flat arena landscape into a rugged and uneven battlefield.

Harriet stood at the pinnacle of one of the now-raised columns, her self-satisfied smirk stretching wide across her face. Her eyes narrowed in determination as she gazed down at the two competitors below her, confident that this wouldn't be a challenge. She thought to herself that this was going to be easy.

With just a casual flip of her wrist, Harriet easily stopped the robotic knights from advancing, waving them off as if they were nothing more than unwanted minions. After all, this huntress dropout and the human in the fancy suit didn't stand a chance against someone of her skill level.

In the blink of an eye, Harriet vanished from sight, leaving nothing but her snickering voice in her wake. The air around Weiss shifted, and the sound of crackling lightning filled the arena. A sudden, chilling breeze blew through, causing Weiss' hair to rustle against her face. Instinctively, she stood close to Chief, adopting a defensive stance and searching the darkness for any sign of Harriet's whereabouts. Her eyes scanned the arena relentlessly, probing every corner. Then, a flash of lightning burst above them, followed by the crackle of another bolt.

Lightning zipped past them, and the two searched the arena for any sign of Harriet's presence. The sound of Cortana's voice, amplified through Master Chief's helmet, cut through the air, startling Weiss. "Super speed, huh?" she commented, her tone intrigued. "This should be interesting."

Weiss watched as another flash of lightning shot past them, illuminating the arena in a brief moment of startling clarity. As Harriet moved through the air at lightning speed, even the Master Chief's motion tracker barely had time to register her movements.

Weiss's voice shook as she spoke, her eyes jumping between the streaking bolts of lightning and the Master Chief's stoic form. "Master Chief, what should we do?" she asked, looking for guidance.

But before he could answer, Weiss's life was put in danger as a streak of lightning flew directly at her. In an instant, the Master Chief pushed her out of the way and towards a nearby column for cover, taking the lightning blast himself as it tore into his side, sending him stumbling backward.

As he took in the damage to his shields, the Master Chief raised his gaze to see where Harriet now stood. Roosted on top of one of the pillars, sending him a disappointed expression while clicking her tongue in frustration. "I was hoping to get rid of the little princess first," she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of annoyance, "but you're not going to let that happen, are you?"

Harriet cracked her knuckles, her expression turning into a wide smile as she prepared to face off against the Master Chief. "I guess I've got to take you down first!" she exclaimed, as electricity crackled around her body and she vanished once again in a blinding flash of light.

X

Clover, who was observing the intense sparring match from the sidelines, couldn't help but comment on the impressive moves and reactions of both contestants. "Great reactions!" he exclaimed, impressed. "Not everyone can spot Harriet when she speeds up like that. And the Chief did a great job of getting his teammate out of harm's way."

Ironwood crossed his arms, observing the fight with a slightly more critical eye. "Let's hope Weiss isn't too much of a hindrance for the Chief," he said, the concern evident in his voice.

Winter, who had been watching the action with bated breath, gripped the railing. "Come on, Weiss," she urged, her heart pounding. "You can do this."

X

Harriet continued to display her superhuman speed, using her abilities to zip around the Chief and land a few quick punches. Each blow landed caused the Chief to stagger slightly, his shields flaring every now and then as he tried to regain his footing. It was clear to those watching that Harriet's speed advantage was giving her an edge.

As the barrage of lightning attacks continued to bombard the Chief, Weiss stepped forward out of her cover, feeling compelled to intervene. "Chief," she called out, her voice laced with worry as she watched her teammate struggle to keep up with Harriet's extraordinary speed. However, the Master Chief seemed to sense this and quickly raised a hand to silence her. With a silent nod, he indicated that he had the situation under control and that she shouldn't worry. But the concern was evident in Weiss's eyes as she watched as he continued to suffer the barrage of Harriet's attack.

The pride of Atlas continued to ram the Master Chief, his motion tracker went wild, displaying the chaos that was unfolding within the battle arena. Cortana's voice came through the helmet, sounding worried as well. "Listen," she said, her tone urgent. "I believe in you, but don't you think we should get Weiss's assistance? I'm being jolted around like a pinball in here!"

The Chief refused to be deterred, his steel resolve in full force as he gritted his teeth through the powerful punches that continued to connect with his defenses. "We'll be alright," he grunted, pushing through the force of her attacks. Despite Harriet's superhuman strength and speed, he was able to discern a pattern to her moves, making him confident that if they waited long enough, they would have the upper hand. With each hit, he clenched his fists and kept his eyes locked on Harriet, his thoughts focused on finding the perfect opportunity to strike.

As Harriet continued to throw punches, the Chief refused to be deterred, his mind quickly calculating the ideal timing to make his move. With a sudden burst of speed, he spun around and, in one swift movement, extended his arm outward, landing a heavy clothesline to Harriet's chest that sent her crashing to the ground. Her body hit the ground hard, the impact causing her

to lose her breath. The Chief stood over her, his eyes locked on Harriet, his resolve stronger than ever.

Struggling to get back up, Harriet let out a groan, as she tried to regain her breath from the Chief's blow. Quickly shaking off the pain, she managed to avoid the Chief's armored boot as it came barreling down, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. Realizing that she couldn't allow her opponent to land another blow, her body crackled with electricity as she zoomed onto a nearby pillar, glaring at him with cold, piercing eyes. "Lucky shot," she hissed, her voice laced with anger, "but that won't happen again." With a wave of her hand, the Atlesian Knights standing nearby took action, joining in on the sparring match, eager to fight at her side.

A barrage of train rounds flew from toward the spartan directions, the Chief quickly leaping behind the nearby pillar that Weiss was behind, The Chief gave Weiss a quick nod, his head moving in a subtle, confident motion. "Stay close and focus on taking out the Knights," he said, his voice firm as he instructed her on their next move. "But don't forget to keep an eye out for Harriet" he continued, caution in his tone. "She's not going to be happy that I landed a hit on her." With those instructions, the two of them prepared for the coming battle with the Atlesian Knights and Harriet, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Watching as the Chief quickly reached for his gun and stepped out of the cover, Weiss knew that this was her chance to prove her worth in battle. Gripping Myrtenaster tightly in her hands, she took a deep breath, steadying her nerves before stepping out after him, with a determined expression on her face.

The Chief and Weiss moved in sync, their eyes locked on the robotic knights that stood in their way. As the Chief dashed to the right, gathering the attention of the knights by weaving in and out of the pillars, Weiss used the distraction to point her Myrtenaster at the clump of the knights, shooting a powerful fireball that destroyed them instantly. With a swift motion, Weiss quickly reloaded her rapier, and the pair continued to move in tandem, their movements synchronized as they made their way through the battlefield.

With a swift motion, the Chief used the battle rifle in his hands as a blunt instrument, smashing the barrel against the face of the first knight he saw. The metallic sound of the rifle crashing into the knight's head echoed through the air, momentarily stunning it before it crumpled to the ground. As a nearby knight raised its weapon, ready to aim the Chief, Weiss was ready, quick to react as she plunged her Myrtenaster into the knight's chest, delivering a powerful blow that brought it crashing to the ground, defeated. With a sense of accomplishment, the Chief and Weiss continued to move through the battlefield, their movements in sync as they fought side-by-side, taking out the remaining Knights.

As they continued to fight off the androids, Weiss was lost in the heat of battle, slashing and stabbing at the knights that stood between her and victory, unaware of the one that had managed to sneak up behind her, rifle raised and ready to deliver a powerful blow. But just as the rifle came crashing down, a bullet whizzed past her and into the robotic skull of the knight,

causing it to collapse onto the ground in a heap. Weiss turned to the Chief, sending him a grateful nod appreciating his quick work in taking out the knight before it could harm her.

Returning the gesture the Chief prepared to once again engage the remaining knights, when a streak of lightning charged at him, forcing him to the floor. In the blink of an eye, he had pushed himself back to his feet, taking in the situation around him as a blinding streak of lightning zoomed in between the pillars, narrowly missing both him and Weiss. "Seems Harriet's recovered," Cortana's voice echoed in his ears, a hint of apprehension in her tone. The Chief quickly scanned the battlefield, taking stock of the situation at hand. Harriet was clearly back on her feet, and with the remaining knights still in the picture, it was clear that the fight was far from over.

With a sudden surge of adrenaline, the Chief began to sprint through the arena, weaving in and out of the nearby pillars, his motion tracker guiding him as he evaded the incoming bullets from the robotic knights that were attempting to take him down.

Bringing down a knight with her ice dust, Weiss glanced up and noticed Harriet's lightning trail heading straight toward the Chief. In a split-second decision, Weiss created an ice wall, shielding the Spartan from Harriet's assault. The speedy huntress collided with the wall, her aura protecting her from serious injury.

Shaking her head from the impact, Harriet let out a loud growl, the air around her crackling with energy.

"You're really starting to piss me off, Schnee!" she growled, her voice dripping with venom. Changing targets she headed straight towards the white-haired girl, her expression filled with malice.

Amid the chaos, Weiss' eyes went wide as she realized what Harriet was about to do. She had always been quick on her feet, but with the speed of a lightning bolt, Harriet was nearly impossible to dodge. Aiming with her Myrtenaster, she shot a series of projectiles toward the approaching huntress, hoping that she could slow her down. To her dismay, Harriet dodged every shot

With no time to react, Harriet's fist crashed into Weiss' face, the force of the punch causing her to stumble backward. But the impact didn't stop there. As the Ace ops girl grabbed Weiss by the throat holding her high in the air she pulled her fist back, her arm crackling with energy.

Having finished off the last of the knights, the Chief turned to see Harriet about to unleash an attack on his teammate. Acting fast, he grabbed the nearest downed knight and threw it with all his might at Harriet.

"Good night princess," Harriet chuckled, her hand crackling with energy as she prepared to deal the finishing blow. But before she could deliver the strike, however, the Atlesian Knight slammed into her side, sending her flying across the arena and crashing into a pillar, her body crumpling onto the floor.

Free from Harriet's grip, Weiss fell to the ground, coughing as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes drifted upwards, and as she gazed upon the Chief's towering figure, a wave of gratitude washed over her. "Thank you, Master Chief."

Extended out a hand, Weiss gratefully took it. He hoisted her up, pulling her to her feet. She stood next to him, her shoulders shaking slightly as she continued to try and regain her breath. "Is she..."

A loud yell of rage filled the arena, the sound of crackling energy growing stronger. Harriet's aura flared up, and the speedy huntress was on her feet again, electricity coursing through her body."Oh, I am gonna make you pay for that!" she growled, her eyes full of anger.

Harriet charged her speed faster than ever. However, instead of going forward, she ran around the arena in circles. Creating a vortex around the pair

The vortex grew faster and faster, the air around them whipping violently as a trail of light began to form in the wake of Harriet's footsteps. As the cyclone continued to grow in power, the Chief and Weiss were forced to brace themselves, as lighting crackled around them.

Harriet's voice filled the air, a cruel laughter filling the arena as the vortex continued to grow in strength, her eyes filled with wicked delight. "What's the matter? "

"Can't keep up?"Harriet's voice echoed through the air, her words carrying a mocking tone. Her eyes burned with rage as she continued her attack, the vortex growing larger and stronger as she sped up, the light trailing behind her growing brighter.

"She's creating an artificial thunderstorm!" Cortana shouted the AI's voice filled with concern as she processed the information before her. "And we're in the middle of it!" A few stray blots dance across the field.

The Chief glanced around the arena, taking stock of the situation. As the wind picked up, the cyclone was gaining momentum, growing more powerful by the second.

As lightning bolts raced toward the pair, Chief covered Weiss, letting his shields take the brunt of the lightning barrage. His shields rang out in alert, cautioning him to their near depletion.

"Weiss," The Master Chief spoke. "We can do this, but not without working together. I need you to listen to my command. Can you do that?"

With a firm nod of her head, Weiss spoke, her voice steady and filled with determination. "I'm listening."

I'll get into position but you need to create a time dilation glyph below me, got it?"

"Time dilation glyph got it."

As the wind whipped around them, Weiss gripped her Myrtenaster tightly, preparing for the next phase of the plan. Her eyes were locked on the Chief, her heart racing as she waited for the moment to strike.

Getting into a runner's start position, the Chief glanced at the glyph that was forming beneath his feet. Before focusing on the vortex in front of him. Time seemed to slow as Chief was able to make out Harriet running inside the vortex, Her face masked with the smug look of victory.Timing, patterns that's what was important.

Piecing together what he had planned, Weiss shouted over the vortex. "What if you miss!?"

As the glyph glowed bright blue, a barrage of lightning bolts rained down on them. "I won't." Taking a step off the glyph, The Master Chief zoomed forward at incredible speed, his shields flaring as the lighting bolts barely missed where he had stood before.

Using Weiss's time dilation glyph, the Chief had been propelled at high speeds, his movements like a blur as he raced through the vortex, smashing into a running Harriet. The force of the impact sent her flying, her body skidding across the ground as she crashed into a wall. Her eyes glazed over, and she collapsed to the ground, defeated.

As the winds began to die down, and the vortex faded away, the Chief stood triumph

"I can't believe we did it." Weiss's voice filled the arena, her tone filled with awe and disbelief.

As she stared at the fallen Harriet, the weight of their victory finally sunk in. The reality that they had actually won the fight. Her shoulders shook as she let out a heavy sigh, the tension from the fight beginning to leave her body. She turned to the Chief, her expression full of admiration."That was incredible."

The Master Chief gave a simple nod.

Weiss looked up at him, her face brightening with a warm smile."I couldn't have done it without you," she said, her eyes full of gratitude.

Chief shook his head, "No, I couldn't have done it without you, your semblance helped us greatly. You were a true asset to this test."

As the Master Chief praised her, Weiss couldn't help but blush, the compliment leaving her feeling a bit embarrassed. She didn't really believe that, letting out a soft laugh, her voice laced with modesty.

"Well, thanks but-"

Weiss' words were cut off as the Ironwood made his way down clapping, his expression filled with pride. "Congratulations you two."

He placed a hand on the Chief's shoulder, his eyes sparkling with joy."You exceeded my expectations."

Winter walked over, standing next to Weiss. "You did great, little sister."

Weiss smiled, the warmth in her eyes mirroring the warmth in Winter's.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude.

As the rest of the Ace-Ops went and checked on the defeated Harriet, Clover gave a thumbs up to the pair, a wide grin on his face. "I knew you two would work well together," he said, his tone laced with confidence. "But don't let me get ahead of myself, congratulations."

As the group gathered in the center of the arena, a loud groan echoed through the air.

Harriet, having finally recovered, rose from the ground, her eyes narrowing as she saw the victorious team. With a click of her tongue, she crossed her arms and looked away."Yeah, yeah. You won, whatever," she grumbled, her tone full of frustration.

Clearing his throat Ironwood gestured toward the door "Ace Ops why don't you help Harriet here to the infirmary? You're dismissed."

The group nodded and escorted the grumpy huntress out of the training grounds.As they left Ironwood turned to the victorious duo "Well, I have to say, this was a successful trial. seeing a spartan in action was truly a sight to behold."

The Master Chief nodded.

"And Miss Schnee," Ironwood said, turning his gaze to her. "That time dilation glyph was quite the impressive move, I look forward to seeing you in the field."

Weiss's eyes widened. "Wait does that mean I-"

Ironwood nodded. "Yes, Miss Schnee. Welcome to Atlas Academy."

As he spoke, the Master Chief and Winter watched as a broad smile spread across Weiss's face, the excitement and joy evident in her expression. Her eyes sparkled with a childlike wonder, and she could barely contain her happiness.

"I'll make the needed arrangements and talk to your father. We can have a formal ceremony for the new recruit if you'd like."

"I would love that sir, thank you."

"Of course, now you two are dismissed."

Turning to leave, the Chief and Weiss walked out of the training grounds together.

Clover watching their retreating form spoke up. "They make quite the team, don't they, General."

Ironwood chuckled, an idea sparking In his eye as he rubbed his beard. "Yes, they do, don't they?"

Walking down the hall to his room Chief spots Harriet who seemed to be deep in thought waiting by the door.

"Hmm seems like someone's ready for round two." chimed Cortana.

Hearing his heavy foot stomps, Harriet snaps from her thoughts and looks up at him. a stern expression as she raises herself from the door. Hands gripped into fists at her side. She meets him in the center of the hall, her eyes narrowing.

Stopping Chief looks down at the girl, As Harriot sees her reflection on the chief's visor, she can't help but notice how different they are. While she stands only 5'7, his massive 7'0 frame towers over her.

"Master Chief," her voice is strong, but a hint of regret can be heard as she speaks. With a huge, she deflates, and the tension leaves her body. With a smile, she extends her hand to shake."Welcome to Atlas."

Chief looks down at her hand, and without a second thought, reaches out and shakes it."Thank you."

"Oh, and you to Cortana."

Cortana's avatar appears. "Thanks, Harriet. It's nice to see you've finally cooled off."

Harriet rolls her eyes at the joke. " Hope you don't mind a rematch someday."

Chief gives a curt nod "Anytime, Ma'am."

Harriet chuckles, and the two go their separate ways, leaving the hallway empty.

"Well, that was unexpected," Cortana said, her voice filled with surprise.

"Agreed," the Master Chief replied, his tone laced with intrigue.

"But," Cortana added, a mischievous smile crossing her face, "I can't help but think about what other surprises might await us here."

The Master Chief didn't reply, instead giving a small hum of agreement.

As he walked back to his room, his thoughts were focused on what the future might hold. While he had only been in Atlas for a short amount of time, the people he had met and worked with were already beginning to shape the world around him. He was sure that, together, they could accomplish great things.

A/N:If you have any questions shoot me a PM or leave it in a review and I'll respond in the next chapter.