In the grand probability of endless potential and opportunity, there exists a timeline where everything goes right, rather than wrong. A timeline where events play out as close to the current one, yet key subtle differences alter and change the fates of those touched. Within the endless reaches of time, space and opportunity, the next step occurs within the 'exchange dormitory' room…
"Such failure won't be tolerated", a cold and venom laced voice whispered. Shivering in fear stood Emerald Sustrai who was still nursing several healing bruises and a new massive headache as the powerful, dangerous and intensely angered Cinder had slammed her and Mercury's heads together once they had been discharged from the infirmary. Yet the emotional wounds were rather deeper.
"Luckily for you…I managed to salvage the situation thanks to a little…Mistrilian jealousy", the clinking of glass heels ring through the darkened room as a dangerous level of spite further radiates outwards. "But you both still failed, so the work will add up more"
…
"WELCOME BACK viewers from across Remnant! With the double rounds kicking off, the victories and defeats from all over the world, this tournament is shaping up to be an exceptionally interesting endeavor!"
"That's right Peter, especially with the exceptional skills we've seen before!", both commentators show several highlight reels from previous fights. some famed and known people, others less famous. Atlesian teams were underperforming according to the popularity polls, whereas Beacon was becoming a little overrepresented. With the first round victory of Fox and Velvet, as well as the rather unorthodox but deeply earned win from Weiss and Yang. A curious occasion indeed how that happened. Having left the stands after their combined impressive victory over BRNZ, the team had hit a little stump. At first Ruby had motioned that she would move to the next round with Yang. The long and close range teamup would keep things balanced, hit and run for the leader and the brawl for the bruiser. Yet Blake was quick to point out that surface area for the rounds would only become smaller, meaning less space for Ruby to run and easier gap closing for the opponents to get to her. While Weiss was snarky in her reply it was more or less the same as Belladonna had a point. Motioning forth Yang and Weiss both proposed that the second pairing would move forwards. Blake and Yang had good synergy and could play off one another to push for a clear victory. Yet Blake herself was quick to point out that she'd rather not hog the spotlight for one and her style was highly inefficient in the double rounds. Much like Ruby, the cat Faunus had a rather 'hit and run' style, using distractions and disruption plays to capitalize on openings generated by her teammates. If the numbers shrank down, then there was less to 'hide' after. Especially, Blake argued, after that impressive showing of Fox and Velvet. SHe argued that in a hypothetical doubles round, she'd end up as outmatched as Emerald was. Which resulted in a startled 'eep' from Weiss as the meaning of all that became clear.
"She and I can't work as well together. We're a team sure, but between the four of us, Yang and myself have the least time working together", the Heiress had protested. Only for the Dragon to brush it off. "Don't worry Weiss, we'll do some workshopping in the time we have and find a good teamplan!"
In truth their battle was won purely by the tampering of Cinder's backwards thinking. Flynt and Neon had, both, in anger for the name Schnee tunnel visioned on the Heiress. Luckily, being ignored made Yang angry. Evading blows, refusing to let herself be isolated, Weiss forwent attacking. Flynt knew how to use Dust for attacks, yet Weiss knew how to use it's true potential, as well as use it in a way her father's company would never have thought about it, to support and boost her ally. While Flynt peppered them with his Dust Trumpet and Killer Quartet, Neon using both the blasts and the anger of her teammate to justify taunting and attacking Weiss, Weiss maneuvered around like a true dancer. She leapt over terrain, boosted herself to evade and tricked the others into forgetting Yang, who's protective big sister nature pushed her beyond her mere 'must tank and return damage' style. With a smirk, they both mirrored FNKY's plans. Unbalancing and disrupting the both of them until at one point Flynt and Neon turned on Yang. Unable to use a big power move quick enough, Weiss made a sacrifice play and pushed Yang out of the way, being knocked out of bounds as a result. However this left the area wide open for Yang to Burn bright and win the fight in the end. In respect for Weiss not being her family name, risking herself to aid Yang and showing she wasn't a Schnee, she was Weiss Huntress in training, Flynt apologized for his earlier hatred of her name while Weiss agreed his anger was misplaced, towards her, but fitting for her father's handling of Nicolas' legacy. She had recalled the last words her grandfather gave her on a Summer's evening: "one day you'll be the castle that protects others", Weiss hid face from Yang as she looked at the icon of her name, the Snowflake insignia of a Schnee and smiled. I'm trying, grandfather.
"However we are all going to be treated to a real doozy of a match with this one! As the last round of the doubles rounds, we can already tell who'll be the fighters. My personal favorite student Nora Valkyrie and Beacon's brightest star Pyrrha Nikos, squaring off against the not unfamiliar members of team OMPS!"
"Quite right, the selected members of these titans would make anyone tremble in the seam of their pants, Poseidon Aegea and Stratós Ozon have been the Mistral top fighters for a time, I'm sure they're eager to see the one they sparred and did competitions with in the Mistral Regional Tournament, miss Nikos. What a sanctimonious reunion!"
The central field of Amity Colosseum was the bland hexagon field. Standing, stretching and warming up her muscles, was the aforementioned Pyrrha Nikos. A soft blush as she was called the brightest, since she didn't believe that was remotely true, flanked by a waving and grinning Nora. Behind them the arenas of 'Swamp' and 'Desolation' were picked, opening the floor to a damp murky and movement slowing swamp that buzzed from heat, while behind Nora a sandy expanse was lifted from the lower mechanical belly of Amity. As they turned towards the other arena, a fully different set of landmarks were picked. A vast body of water that had no grounds to stand on, which was odd as in previous tournaments this 'Atlantic' biome had proven terrible for most combatants that weren't hyper specialised water fighters, the reveal of this biome earning a terrified squeak from Neptune who was sitting far to close to it. While the other field was the Anti Gravity biome. Pyrrha's brow frowned. Odd, usually at least one fighter of each team gets a 'benefactory' and disadvantage field, this was four that weren't in her or Nora's favor.
"There…she…is…", the voice was first heard before the speaker was seen. Landing with a dynamic and overly dramatic entry, his knees and feet sparkling with electricity as he descended from one of the platforms suspended in anti gravity Dust, rose a fighter that Pyrrha had beaten twice before, yet her body tensed as he spoke and looked at her like a prized pig in the slaughterhouse. His body was bulky. Trained and honed like Atlesian steel, chiseled abs that were exposed to the air, as the man wore what appeared as nothing more than a traditional Mistral Toga, exposing half his left side to the open air. Many girls and boys in the crowd were swooning over the impressive display. If Pyrrha had to venture a guess, his abs were even more trained and pronounced than team SSNS. Sporting sandals, leg armor and a single right arm gauntlet and pauldron in materials that had a similar built and design as Pyrrha, yet off course in a mixture of soft yellow but mostly white aesthetics. Stratós Ozon had become number one in the Mistral combat scene, when Pyrrha moved to Beacon. Something she even to this day doesn't regret at all. "Long time no see, sweetie"
Pyrrha's shoulders shivered as if the coldest bite of winter crawled over her back. Hiding her disdain, knowing EXACTLY what kind of 'flesh devourer' this man was, his appraisal and affections were nothing more than poisoned gifts. And who even likes sweets!? That's unhealthy. Yet try telling that to Nora. Pyrrha slowly raised her shield, not exactly to provoke, but to put something between her and him.
"Sweetie?!" Did you two used to date?!", Nora asked in utter disbelief as she had been somewhat interested in a new combatant.
"Yes!", came his answer.
"No!", was the instant direct answer to Nora as well as a glare towards Stratós. He had made many direct, indirect and unwanted advances upon her person. Pyrrha shivered, this time visibly at the thought of being another of those conquered 'victims' of his. After all, he wasn't just a heartbreaker, he was a heart ruiner.
"Don't lie, my sweet lightning rod", Pyrrha flinched. Not only had he used that numerous times, as a way to be 'coy and cute' with her semblance, something Ozon didn't even figure out himself to be honest, yet he never had relented. Nora caught this and her eyes turned from amical to defensive. "Don't make me break your legs"
"I would love if anyone could, but first I am breaking her", another voice, this time Pyrrha didn't flinch. She gasped in shock. Something once again, Nora noticed. Bunking with Pyrrha had made reading her a little easier for Nora, especially once Nora had declared that Pyrrha was family. She always wanted a sister. And seeing her 'sister' be this uneasy, made Nora angry. She stepped closer to Nora, which luckily slowly relaxed Pyrrha, if only a little. From the water came another physically impressive huntsman in training. Also showing WAY more skin than is necessary and regulated, dressed in green blue armor exposing his chest area and having long navy hair rose up with a disinterested face and eyes that were like the ocean, yet filled with hate and anger. Stepping out of the water without even a single molecule of water clung to his tanned skin, slapping the same kind of sandals as Stratós, except in navy colours, upon the central platform. He walked forwards, disinterested in body language, yet his eyes were a different world. Treacherous, devastating, monstrous. As he stood there, shoulder to shoulder with Ozon, his eyes turned towards the public, before a whirlpool of cheers broke from the stands. This visibly made the second fighter smirk. "Some respect, at last…"
"Aegea…", Pyrrha whispered, priming her spear into the crescent hole of her shield, as her teacher had taught her back in Argus. She steadied her footing and primed her spear. After all, this lunatic wasn't above fighting dirty to score a lead. Nora, once more showing she was able to notice, quickly strengthened the hold on Magnhild and grinned. This one would surely get broken legs!
"Poseidon…always with the dramatic entrances", Ozon smirked as he pressed the side of his hip and a massive javelin of beautiful craftsmanship that sparked as it extended. Akóntio, the lightning Javelin. Not to be outdone, Poseidon Aegea, number three of the ranking and therefore standing as the benchmark of the Big Three of Mistral, opened his hand as the water behind him began to rush and bubble. A stream of liquid coalesced in his hand and formed a see through trident, which had an almost hypnotic wave and flow to it. A weapon made of pure water. Whatever happened to the original Antivrema, Pyrrha wondered as she watched the literal weapon numbering of a three pronged fork and a single point javelin. Quite on the nose, wouldn't you think?
"Silence 'brother', this woman must be broken for beating us and then vacating towards Vale. Without giving me a chance for revenge"
"I did beat you twice. Which reminds me, where's Mavron? And Seprentina?", Pyrrha asked, she kept her voice neutral, but anyone who knew Pyrrha could sense her fury.
"You know these two?", Nora asked cautiously. Pyrrha gave a subtle nod.
"Yes, these were the number three and number one of Mistral, before I defeated them both and won 4 years in a row. There was even talk of them and me forming a team, the Big 4 of Mistral, they called it", Pyrrha explained quickly as she felt the air around her become tense with danger. In a flash Poseidon leapt forwards and struck his trident forwards. The solid water deflected off of Akoúo with a loud whine of the Adamant metal, a rare resource gifted only to the best of Mistral. Stepping forwards and bashing the Dipylon shield sprang forth and slammed into Poseidon who barely reacted. Thrusting, using the trained methods of her rather spartan teacher, her spear Miló attempted to bite forwards, eager for that atlantic Aura. However a rush of sparks and a loud bang were audible before Pyrrha could 'speak' as her spear was slammed upwards and thrown away. In a flash Stratós had closed the distance and was aiding his teammate, spinning his non-dominant left arm and javelin up to intercept Miló. Both had actively ignored Nora who blinked as her sister was team blitzed by these bullies. Angry and ignored, she swung her hammer and drove it towards Ozon. But without moving, Nora's strike was blocked and sent back as the golden pauldron on Stratós' right arm caught the blow and reflected it. A heavy brush of lightning Dust sparking as he smiles at the redhead now flung several meters into the swamp and sinking knee deep in the bog, the wet undergrowth sucking at her weight and anchoring her down. "Await your turn, ginger, we've got business with the 'goddess of victory'"
A tendril of water coiled up Valkyrie's leg and body to gag her as Poseidon threw her a dismissive look before spinning around Pyrrha, further pushing his advance and forcing her towards the water. Pyrrha's instincts keeping her active as she evaded thrust and stab, each time her shield would listen to the heavy grind of steel whining under high pressure water, as her sword version of Miló couldn't get near Poseidon, his exposed flanks and openings protected by the lightning fast Stratós. Dealing with them individually had always been Nikos' best show of skill and training, dealing with them together was a difficult nut to crack. Shield raised, she staggered back, weaving and dipping through attacks, using what polarity she could on the Akóntio to further bolster her defenses. But it seemed Poseidon had learned and adapted, using pure water to fight her. Recalling the first times, his trident had been an easy exploit, had he figured out she had Polarity at her side? Regardless, slowly but surely, the Goddess of Victory was being driven towards the water.
"This is where your voyage is drowned, Nikos", Poseidon boasted as he bodily kicked Pyrrha upon the water. Thinking fast she used the momentum, spun around in a backflip and landed on Akoúo, haphazardly using it as a surfing board upon the water that seemed hellbent on catching her in an undertow. Waves and currents began throwing her around, 'storm at sea' as Poseidon waved the trident at Pyrrha's 'driftwood' shield. With the aid of Polarity, Nikos managed not to be pulled under, her Aura beginning to drop ever so slightly from the usage. Thinking fast, she used the currents and attempted to maneuver back towards the center ring. As she used the pull of a vortex that appeared behind her, Pyrrha shot forwards with her sword ready. Closing the distance until she smelled something. Emerald eyes widened as she sprang from her shield, it's safety being pulled down into the waters and leapt towards the Anti-Gravity biome as a heavy thunderclap echoed through the arena. Flying up above the Atlantic Biome.
"Ho ho! As spry as ever my Lightning Rod!", his face was filled with the 'adoration' a filthy pig shows a plate of favorite food before stuffing his face full. Pyrrha shivered as she saw her shield vanish beneath the waters, Poseidon smiling wickedly. It's not that Pyrrha had forgotten that Stratós Semblance, Sky Father, allowed him to move through the air as if he was walking on solid ground, yet she didn't anticipate it because she was preoccupied not drowning. And given the intense hatred in Poseidon's eyes, that was definitely what would have happened if she had touched the water. 'If one faces insurmountable odds, change the equation. If numbers overpower, bottleneck them', the words returned to her as she dodged a second bolt of Lightning hurled at her. She smiled. Yes I can fight them one at a time!
Stratós flew over towards the platform he'd last seen Pyrrha, yet she had vanished. Confused, he stepped upon the hard stone platform before he spun around and ducked. Having used the gravity altering streams, Pyrrha had managed to evade his sight and now slammed against him. With only a sword, she had to change her fighting style. Quick and fast strikes, leaving no time for a counter attack, along with the occasional magnetic 'push' to throw Akóntio off center, Pyrrha began landing a few blows as Stratós had to back up. In a panic he sprang up to Sky Father away from her, yet was caught in a stream of gravity and slammed face first into a vertical platform. Seizing the initiative, Pyrrha went in pursuit. Slamming on top of him she planted her foot to try and break some more Aura, before a painful blast of water struck her back and threw her into a forward roll. Poseidon had snuck up behind her and that disgusting face he made showed he was pretty happy with the damage he had done from this attack. A quick look towards the white dressed 'pleasured of the flesh' fighter, Pyrrha took a gamble. She charged Poseidon! With a weapon as unyielding as a trident, once I get close, I can leverage my faster frame and reach over his slow and long range weapon, she theorized. Initiating her attack pattern, Poseidon gave no reaction. Blocking what he could, tanking what he couldn't block and turning Pyrrha's offense against her. After Miló bit three times into Poseidon's Aura, he bearhugged her, leaving her trapped with both arms pinned at her side.
"Now we are going for a dive", he smiled sadistically as he jumped, using the gravity inversion stream below them to catapult them both underwater in the Atlantic biome. Instinctively Pyrrha drew in a heavy breath before the cold embrace of water pulled both of them from the sun and into the water tank. Inside, Poseidon let go of her and threw a nasty kidney blow. Pyrrha's Aura ate that illegal move which none could see in the darker distorting water, helped by Poseidon willingly swirling the water, forcing Pyrrha and him deeper and deeper towards the bottom. Her eyes saw how the water moved around his head, to make a 'bubble' of air. She clasped her sword and tried to attack, yet she wasn't moving through water. It felt like syrup. It clung to her, slowing her down to a crawl. Smiling wickedly, Poseidon threw another kidney punch. Pyrrha's Aura once more ate the blow, yet this time a sting of pain rang throughout her body, as she instinctively pulled magnetically, hoping for a miracle at this point. Her lungs weren't empty yet, but she was getting in a dangerous pickle.
Poseidon was clearly having fun murdering her, and for all the world could see, she and him were in an open pocket of air beneath the water. He had thought this through. Off course, that didn't exactly phase Pyrrha. After all it was mostly because of this lunatic she had vacated away from Mistral and came to Beacon. Her friends knew by now that the 'put on a pedestal Pyrrha Nikos' came to a place in hopes of making bonds with people that didn't think she was out of their league. But part of that was the fault of this deranged water bender. When Pyrrha ascended the tourney, climbing the 'Steps of Thermaic' and became the number one in Mistral, she had expected praise and respect from her victories. Yet what she got was glorification from the masses, and demonisation from Poseidon. Stratós only wanted one thing, which was to bed her and move on, given that back then he had at least three women on each of his arms, at any time of the day. Yet when he was beaten he became obsessed with 'the one woman he couldn't physically beat', the one girl who didn't wanna be his next victory. It drove him to unhealthy behavior. Stalking her, sneaking into her dress room at tourneys, sending copious amounts of drinks and food to her hoping they'd share an evening. Tired of his advances, Pyrrha shot him down once, only fueling his harassments. Yet the real danger was the other one. He defamed her. Sprouted that she had cheated, putting that on her Semblance which he didn't at the time knew was Polarity, furious he had fallen out of the graces of the Three and began spreading rumors. Cheater, difficult to bond with, hard to approach, before long, all of Mistral believed these poisoned words. How often hadn't Pyrrha returned home to Helen and Jason, crying and weeping. If it wasn't for her parents, she would have been truly isolated. The loneliest of all in Mistral. Until she had enough and moved. Vale, Beacon, Jaune. A new start. Yet this lunatic crossed continents, with revenge in mind, all because he was beaten by Pyrrha. She needed a miracle alright as the water turned to concrete, holding her in place, lungs screaming for air. And a miracle she was given.
"What the-", the heavy bang of Akoúo against the back of Poseidon's head broke his hold of the water, moving to headbutt him, Pyrrha pulled in as much air as she could from his 'bubble' before she kicked off of him and swam to the surface. As she began swimming up she reached for a single round of dust in her belt and flung it towards Poseidon who had regained himself and was using his Semblance to try and pull her back down. The bullet impacted his eye and blinded him temporarily. With shield and sword back in hand she broke the surface, gasping in desperate need of air and pulled herself out, crawling to the center part of the arena and coughed up liquid from her diaphragm. Wobbly but alive she staggered to her knees until she was lifted up.
"Come here Lightning Rod!", Stratós lifted her up in the air and brought her back over towards the Atlantic Biome. Desperate and eager NOT to repeat that whole ordeal, Pyrrha gave a backwards headbutt, put her feet on his abdomen and kicked off towards the middle again. Tendrils of water reaching out to grab her, but were quickly sliced with Miló before once more, Pyrrha with dangerously low Aura, stood at the center, gazing at the Swamp biome to hopefully help Nora…only..Nora was gone.
"Slippery as ever", Stratós said as he landed at the edge of the water, where Poseidon was rising out off, his eyes vivid with inhumanly deep rage and anger.
"Almost had her. Yet she dares strike us. I want a pure victory, yet she dares lay three strikes upon me. I shall BREAK HER WITH TWO!", having boasted that, Poseidon raises a bottle from his belt. A crystal clear see through combat bottle that housed a golden liquid. A honey laced something? Taking the cork in his teeth, to open the bottle and spit the cork away, he emptied the liquid into his gullet and swallowed. A soft glow to his abdomen spread over his body as his Aura score increased. Combat enhancers! Those were illegal! Soon the fight should be canceled and this would all be just a terrible misunderstanding. Or so Pyrrha thought as Stratós simply produced a similar bottle.
"Poseidon why'd you go and do that for, now we HAVE to report the workings to Leo", he said with an annoyed voice before downing the spirits as well.
"Don't care." Testing battle enhancers is a small price to pay to break the goddess of Victory", Poseidon said as his Aura score pulled almost back to a full hundred percent. What in the heck was that?!
"Hmm…gotta tell Leo to add more flavor, the Nectar Ambrosia is definitely less tasty than it looks", Ozon gruntled Pyrrha's knees began shaking ever so slightly as she could smell the burning atmosphere of imminent lightning strikes. Their Aura had been boosted. Meaning that now…
"You will face Ocean Master full on!", Poseidon said, blatantly naming his Semblance as the water behind him boiled and shaped towards his will, forming a massive body that he could lift up and force over Pyrrha, now she would drown anywhere she went! This..this was impossible to win now. She had barely any reserves left, her ally was gone and these two lunatics were even bigger threats than before!
"Lucky that ginger friend of yours was stupid enough to strike my Fleece. Like it? It uses Dust to store energy and upon being touched, absorbs the blow and redirects a massive amount of damage outwards, fueled by my Lighting off course", boasting Stratós fired a bolt that struck near Pyrrha, the paralyzing shocks of lightning anchoring her down as Poseidon brought the water prison towards her. She let out a terrified gasp before a loud and angry roar shook awake the Colosseum.
"I'LL…", the voice was shaky and quivered. As if the person was in fear, or pain. Or overly excited, "..BREAK…", a massive explosion of pink brought forth a tooth grinning Nora riding her hammer through the air, "...YOUR LEGS!"
Pyrrha's eyes sparked with new life! Second wind hit her as she flipped Miló in a reverse grip, raised Akoúo and sprang forwards, breaking the lightning's stunning effect as she quickly gave a disorienting strike at Stratós. The victorious roar of Nora, accompanied by flashes and sparks of purple lightning, making Stratós give her a confused 'impressive' head tilt before a huge blast of energy evaporated through the water prison ball as Nora's powerful Amped Up blow smashed into Poseidon's face, taking his Aura down not just from full to the threshold, but shattering it completely. As she lands, she gives a glare at the two opponents: "I…HATE…Being ignored…"
"how…dare…you", the roasted and barely conscious Poseidon sputters as he falls to his knees, clutching his stomach. A drawback from the Ambrosia, some good luck! Watching Nora glare at Ozon, made Pyrrha smile. The distant memory of a brown armored mentor smiling at her: "remember, no matter how desperate you are, brothers and sisters in arms will always come through for you. So treasure your friends. And always remember your training", Pyrrha cracked a watery smile at that thought. Master Leonidas. Steeling herself she looked at Poseidon, with Stratós running for dear life as Nora chased him. Until the fight was called. Pyrrha and Nora were declared winners. And what was funny was that not only were the security staff all over Poseidon and Stratós, but the final teammate of theirs was chewing them out!
"Illegal drug use, what else would the Ambrosia be? And then there's attempted murder, the MASSIVE amounts of red flags for our resident 'ladies' man' given that Stratós goes for anything that has legs. You'd both be lucky to be allowed back in Mistral, let alone accused of murder!", a lithe thin but strong black and purple dressed huntsman said, chewing out the other members of OMPS. His voice, unlike the others, sounded tired and yet there was a fire in his heart that Pyrrha remembered from years ago.
"She needs to break, for all that she did to me", Poseidon said in rage before he was slapped in the face by his team member.
"All that because she kicked you out of the Big Three, Poseidon? So then you try to drown her in a match so stupidly rigged that it is almost pathetic? Didn't the meaningless death of Serpentina teach you anything? You're a murderer and a coward. Stand up and show them your face. Let all of the world see what Poseidon Aegea is truly: a disgrace to the Huntsman legacy!"Having finished his rant, Mavron Pluto, the third and final member of OMPS walks towards Pyrrha with a genuine smile. Heavy bags under his eyes, Pyrrha recalls that even back then, he looked like he never slept. Unlike the other two, he seemed malnourished, thin and frail. But this man was a panther cloaked in shadows. And the nicest man that lived in Mistral.
"Ahh miss Nikos. You've managed to find a worthy teammate. I'd invite you for olives, but I sadly cannot stomach food having seen the behavior of my teammates. I do hope we can speak once more. After all, it is Destiny that you and I should meet again.."