A/N: A lot has happened since I last did a Team PASM Chapter. First, it's World of Warcraft releasing its Lich King Classic and then I ended up suffering from a cold that lasted for two weeks. But now I'm back with a new chapter. One that is going to be a huge event for Team PASM.

Chapter 41: Vytal Festival Part 1 - Team Round.

Late May. In the Desert Kingdom of Vacuo. The city is festive and full of decorations and booths, with a large Amity Colosseum flowing in the skies. The streets are filled with countless citizens. Several sit in stalls and drinking taverns watching the monitors within them. Monitor that shows a live event happening at the Colosseum.

The field picks a landscape and one-half lands on a desert and the other half lands on a forest.

3!

Team PASM braces themselves for battle.

2!

Their opponent, Team JADE, is doing the same.

1! ...GO!

And they all engage in combat. The audience roars with excitement as the battle between Teams PASM and JADE begins. Akira battles against Alleria in a battle of swordsmanship. They strike and parry each other's attacks ending it with a face-to-face clash. Selena summons several firebolts and launches them against Dave. Dave blocks all of the attacks with his shield, which begins charging and glowing with every firebolt it takes. When fully charged, Dave slams the bottom of his shield to the ground and it unleashes a flaming shockwave that counters against Selena. Marlene is rapidly shooting her pistols at Evan, who is deflecting each of her bullets by spinning his lance at incredible speed. Patrick and Jessie, strike each other with swift attacks and dodge with acrobatic skills. When Patrick leaps back in midair he shifts his weapon and shoots arrows at his opponent.

"Greetings and happy Vytal Festival everybody." Professor Oobleck says through the announcement. "We welcome you all to the first match of the Team Round of the Vytal Tournament. And it's shaping up to be quite a match, wouldn't you say, Professor Rishima?"

"Indeed it is, Professor Oobleck. It is such an honor for me to be able to participate in announcing the Amity Colosseum." Marina says. "Our first match is Beacon's Team PASM against Vacuo's very own Team JADE."

"Team JADE may be one of Vacuo's elite students but Team PASM is no pushover." Marina says.

"That is right. Mr. Patrick and Miss Akira are top-class fighters. Miss Sherry does however have a disadvantage not being able to use her semblance but she is quite skilled with Dust. On the other hand, Miss Marlene is not going to last long with her lack of skill and strength."

Hearing that makes Marlene flinch and turned around. "Wait! What?!" That only earns Marlene a knockback tackle from Evan.

"I disagree, Professor Oobleck. What Miss Watts lacks in combat, she makes up for in smarts. Not every match is won with brute force." Marlene says.

"Yes, yes. Knowledge is indeed important when facing your opponent, let us see how Miss Marlene fairs in the arena." Oobleck says.

Marlene is dodging Evan's swift attacks, some of the first few she was able to avoid but couldn't keep up and each up taking the rest, ending with a knockback and her Aura beginning to flicker. Some of the people in the audience are in suspense for the predicament Marlene's in. The monitor even shows that her Aura is one hit away from hitting the minimum limit.

Marlene watches as Evan positions himself to deliver a final strike. Marlene is worried realizing the prediction she's in, and Evan charges right at her. Marlene dodges out of the way and Evan charges through the air. Evan positions himself once again and charges. Marlene dodges, but this time barely makes it. Marlene is on one knee panting in exhaustion.

"It appears that young Marlene is already exhausted, and her Aura Level is running low." Professor Oobleck says. "I'd very much like to see how she is gonna get out of this mess."

Marlene looks around trying to find a solution. The only thing she can find is Selena fighting Dave, with Dave's back turned. That's when Marlene gets the idea. Marlene turns her attention back to Evan, who is positioning himself once again, but this time with his feet charging up in raw energy.

"What's this? It appears Evan is going to use his Semblance." Professor Oobleck says.

Marina observes Dave closely. "Oh dear, the Sylvinsprint at that much energy could be enough to take out an opponent with more than a third-quarter of their Aura, not to mention he'll charge at the speed of sound."

Oobleck gives Marina an impressive look. "What an impressive display of knowledge from a Semblance before it's unleashed. I expected no less from the daughter of one of the legends. But that said, it appears that young Marlene is finished...Hold on, what is this?"

Once Evan is finished charging up, he remains in place waiting to strike. He keeps his eye on Marlene, who looks at Evan with a serious grin, then finger-taunts him to come and get her. Evan looks offended and lets out a roar. The second he does, Marlene shoots the ground with Dust Bullets. The dust bullets cause the ground to form a wall in a mixture of ice and earth. The second it forms, Evan unleashes his power. All in a single invisible instant, Evan charges with a sonic boom, impales the wall, breaking it off the ground, and blasting the broken wall and Marlene along with it. Not only that but as Dave is about to unleash another shockwave at Selena, he gets caught in the blast and is sent flying along with Marlene and Evan and all three of them fall off the edge of the arena.

The crowd gasps in shock then cheers. "I can't believe what I'm seeing, folks. It appears Marlene provoked Evan into charging. She sacrificed herself to take out both him and Dave."

"It's like I said, Professor Oobleck: What Marlene lacks in strength she makes up for in smarts," Marina says. "With two of JADE's members out, Team PASM may have the advantage."

The fight goes on, there's a fight going on off the arena. Marlene just sits by watching as Evan and Dave argue. "I told you to never use your Semblance with that much power, you idiot!"

"I'm the idiot!?" Evan shoves Dave. "You're the one who was standing in the way!"

Marlene sighs as she watches Dave and Evan getting at each other's throats.

Patrick is fighting off against Jessie, both of their blades are locked in a hold as they use all their strength to try and push each other, but Jessie has more strength and starts pushing Patrick back. Patrick tries to think of a way out of this. He cannot free his hand to activate the Dust Bracers. Selena sees the situation he is in and rushes to aid him. Selena loads her staff with an Ice Dust Crystal. She hurls her staff and it lands right in between them, causing a large wall of ice shards to rise up and separate the two.

Jessie is surprised by the sight of this. She looks up to the tip of the ice wall, and that's when Patrick leaps over and dives onto her. Jessie defends herself from the diving strike. During the block, Patrick strikes her with his leg, the bracer filled with fire dust. The impact knocks Jessie. away in a fiery explosion, causing her aura to flicker and then fade.

"Oh, it appears that Miss Jessie of JADE is out on account her Aura Level is low." Professor Oobleck says.

Akira and Alleria both stand in place, ready to strike but waiting for the other to hit first. Alleria heard the news of Jessia's fall and looks at the monitor. She's the only one standing, up against three opponents. And when she looks back at Akira, she is surprised to see Patrick and Selena at Akira's sides, ready to strike.

With no other opinion, after a long pause of thinking, Alleria laid down her sword and raised her hands in surrender. "Alleria has surrendered. Team PASM has won the match, and will move on to the doubles round." The crowd cheers with excitement for this victory.

After the round, Team PASM collected their missing member: Marlene, and then returned to the city.

They all gather at a noodle booth and refuel their bodies of food. As they eat, Marina joins them. "I'm so proud of you guys, you've made it to the doubles down."

"Thank you, professor," Selena says.

"Let's not celebrate just yet. We have yet to make it to the finals." Patrick says.

"Patrick's right. The doubles round will be filled with fighters more challenging than the first round." Akira says. Marina places her order and the vendor goes to the back to prepare it. "By the way, shouldn't you be announcing the next match?"

"Professor Villads is covering for me." Marina says with a smile. "So, have you decided who's going to the doubles round?"

"Patrick and Akira," Selena answered. "They are the most skilled of our team, and I'll be busy with...other things."

Everyone knows what Selena means by that. They mostly say nothing given the possibility that Marina might not know of Selena's Idol life. "Plus, I wouldn't survive in the doubles round. I was a laughingstock in that arena."

"You are not a laughingstock. You just...fight differently." Patrick says. His tone sounds hesitant and lacking. Marlene realized it immediately and slumps onto the bar. Everyone else just throws expressions on Patrick, who notices all eyes are on him. "What did I say?"

"Marlene, you may not be a strong fighter, but you're smart. What you did in the arena was impressive, taunting Evan into knocking out Dave." Selena says.

"Sherry's right. I don't think anyone else could have thought of that." Marina says with a smile.

Marlene turns her head to face them, still moping. "Thanks for the pep talk, everyone, but I know when I'm beaten."

Nobody says anything to cheer up Marlene. After they were done eating and Marina got her order, Selena takes Marlene and left the food stand while Patrick and Akira start heading toward the Colosseum. Team CPER's match is coming up and they decided to watch and support them. The match between Teams HMSR (Hampshire) and team LUNA is nearing the end with Marrow and Harriet going on against Nio. The match ends with Nio being defeated and Marrow and Harriet move on to the doubles round.

"They are formidable foes." Akira says.

"When they say Atlas has elite fighters, they weren't kidding." Patrick says.

Professor Oobleck makes his announcement for the next match. Team CPER and Team AYST prepare themselves for battle. As she usually does, Rayla greets her opponent with a respectable courtesy. Team AYST finds it weird, but that's the least of everyone's problems. Peter takes notice of the team leader, Aurora, who is a beautiful upperclassman with shiny blue hair with sparkling violet highlights. Peter is captivated by that woman's beauty, and it makes Clawdia furious as she steps hard on his foot and pulls his ear, eventually snapping him out of his trance.

"My, oh my, it seems that Team CPER is putting on quite the performance for our audience. In the comedy division." Professor Villads says. The whole audience laughs, thinking it's a little skit between "brother and sister". This little act causes Patrick to slap himself in the face and groan in annoyance.

"Honestly. Even in a place like this, they never change." Akira says.

As the scene goes on, Patrick has noticed something. He activates Scope Vision and notices Aurora is deviously smiling toward Peter. "I think Miss Supermodel down here discovered Peter's weakness."

The field randomizer activates and it's set for one-half ocean and the other half volcanic terrain. Both teams prepare themselves for battle. Aurora has her eyes set on Peter, and when she has his attention, Aurora throws him a charming smile with a hand wave.

"3...2...1...GO!"

Aurora charges right toward Peter, knocking him back with a single blow from her lance. Peter is sent flying only about a few feet away from the edge of the arena. This surprises the rest of Team CPER as well as most of the audience, a big muscular guy like them overwhelmed by a beautiful woman. Clawdia has her eyes set on Aurora.

"Mew're mine, sweetheart!" Clawdia charges toward Aurora with a leaping strike. Aurora positions herself in a defensive stance to block the attack. With the two leaders clashing with each other, Earnest and Rayla have their eyes set on Yumi and Scar. Scar comes at Earnest with his axes. Earnest cracks his knuckles as his opponent approaches, then gestures a wall. Scar strikes at Earnest but hits an invisible shield.

Peter gets back on his feet, once he's up and sees Tyler charge at him with his fists drawn back ready to strike. Peter manages to dodge the incoming attack on time. Tyler keeps on delivering swift blows. Peter spends the first five seconds dodging, then starts drawing out his axe and begins counterattacking.

Rayla's opponent makes a move, but Rayla activates her Semblance, disappearing. Yumi strikes where Rayla was only to hit nothing but air. Yumi looks all around her surroundings, armed and prepared for an attack. Ignoring the battles between the rest of the teams, Yumi begins to grow frustrated.

"Come on out, I know you're close." Yumi shouts.

Nothing happens. Yumi begins to grow impatient. Rayla then reappears behind Yumi. In the blink of an eye, Rayla closes in on Yumi and jabs her fingers into Yumi's neck. Yumi instantly flinches as she becomes paralyzed and collapses. Everyone has their eyes set on the scene, even the rest of the Teams pause their fights to witness the event.

"Shouting with aggression in public. What terrible manners." Rayla says.

"Whoa. I did not know she could do that." Peter says, speaking to his opponent.

The arena stands silent, even the announcers are speechless. "Uh...I have no idea what just happened, but it appears that young Yumi is down for the count." Professor Oobleck says.

Rayla finishes her match by dragging Yumi with her steel wires and throws Yumi over the edge. With that done, Rayla goes to assist Clawdia against Aurora. Earnest is still blocking Scar's attacks with his invisible shield. At the final blow, Earnest slams the shield to knockback Scar. Scar lands and then just watches. Earnest is just gesturing something else. That makes the cocking sound of a gun. Tyler catches on to what's happening and takes immediate evasive action.

Earnest begins shooting several bullets. Tyler runs avoiding the bullets by the skin of his teeth. Earnest locked his eyes on his opponent and aims the invisible machine gun at Tyler.

Peter and Scar traded blows at each other. Scar dodges each of them, and Peter either takes it or blocks it with his axe. Peter then loads Ice Dust into his axe. The next time Tyler comes at him, Peter strikes, right at the blades. Tyler lands and prepares to strike again, only he realized his hands are heavy. He looks and, much to his surprise, his hands and blades at encased in ice. Peter smirks at his opponent as his axe starts loading with Earth Dust then smashes the ground and a rave of earth shards charges at him. The blow knocks out Tyler and his Aura shatters.

"Oh, and we're down 4 against 2." Professor Oobleck says.

Clawdia and Rayla are focusing their efforts on Aurora. Aurora is doing really well against two opponents. Clawdia and Aurora lock themselves in a clash. Rayla takes the opportunity and launches her steel wires. Aurora hears the wires coming and then somersaults herself over Clawdia. Clawdia becomes entangled in Rayla's wires. The two of them are in a situation, but it gets worse when Aurora sweeps Clawdias legs with her lance and strikes Clawdia with a knockout.

Clawdia goes flying and drags Rayla with her. Clawdia flies over the edge. Rayla digs her heels to the ground. Clawdia is dangling off the arena while Rayla is using all her strength to hold her.

"Uh no, it appears Clawdia is out as well." Professor Villads says.

"Oh, I don't know if that counts as an out just yet. Miss Rayla is still hanging onto her." Professor Oobleck says. "But aside from that, a spectacular move Young Aurora has moved. A Huntress in both beauty and brains."

The crowd is on their feet at the suspense situation. Rayla groans through the pain. "Hang in there, Mistress!" Rayla says.

"Is this supposed to be a joke!?" Clawdia shouts.

Aurora causally walks close to Rayla. She pleasantly watches the situation the two are in. Then pokes Rayla from behind with the tip of her lance. Rayla falls over and she and Clawdia are out of the arena.

"Okay, now Miss Clawdia is out, and so is miss Rayla." Professor Oobleck admits. "Now it's back to 2 on 2."

"Oh! Hang on!" A volcanic blast goes out and Scar gets caught in the blast. Covered in soot, Scar stands, groans dizzily, and then collapses. "Scar's aura is completely depleted. Now it's just Aurora against Peter and Earnest. Quite a turn of events, wouldn't you say?"

Aurora now stands against Peter and Earnest. Peter is once again falling for Aurora's beauty and charm. This upsets Earnest and he starts pulling Peter by the ear. "Ow! Ow! Ow!" Peter pushes Earnest off of him. "What was that for? You're acting like Clawdia." Earnest says something in sign language. "You know I don't understand what you're saying!" Earnest rolls his eyes and says something with one hand.

Watching from the audience, Akira leans to whisper to Patrick. "What did he say?"

"I didn't catch the first half of his first communication, but I assume he was saying 'You need to focus, not flirt.' Then said, 'Oh now he admits it'."

"I already have enough of a hard time with my cousin interfering in my life, the last thing I need is some annoying mime! Especially one that locked me in some invisible cage for one night!" Earnest throws a hardened expression. He then communicates something but, first looking like he's asleep then uses one hand over his mouth to gesture to talk, then makes an elderly pose then pointing at Peter with a stern expression. "Don't you dare bring my grandmother into this!"

Aurora just watches the two argue, even though only one of them is doing the talking. Annoyed, she starts tapping her lance to the ground rapidly until she gets their attention. "Uh, excuse me? We are in a middle of a match!" Peter and Earnest realize that. They hear the audience laughing and muttering. They find themselves embarrassed. "Ugh. Boys."

The three of them position themselves to fight. Aurora once more puts on the charm on Peter and, as usual, the poor brute falls for it. Earnest doesn't bother trying to snap him out of it. Instead, he goes for Aurora, only to be quickly and easily overpowered and defeated.

"Oh! Earnest is down for the count. Now it's a sudden death match folks!" Villads says.

"However, it appears that young Peter has fallen for Miss Aurora's feminine charms. This could be the end of Team CPER." Oobleck says.

In the audience, Patrick says in agreement: "Yep. They're doomed."

Aurora keeps charming Peter. He is immobilized by love. Aurora comes closer with her lance ready to strike as she keeps throwing her beauty at him. Then Clawdia's voice echoes in his head. 'Do I have to remind mew what happened against Sharlet Brown back in Signal? There should be no excuses! Mew need to get over this phase!'

Even hearing that, he's still under Aurora's spell. With a smirk, Aurora makes her strike. But in that last second, Peter activates his Semblance and his body turns into iron. Upon impact, Aurora vibrates. Her body shakes from the hard impact of iron. Aurora in her vulnerable state, Peter loads his axe with Combustible Dust.

"Sayonara, cupcake!" Then strikes her with an explosive bang that sends Aurora flying.

On the monitors, it shows that Aurora's Aura is in the red zone. "And Miss Aurora is defeated. Team CPER now moves onto the doubles round!" The crowd cheers with excitement for the performance. Even Akira and Patrick are speechless as if they have just witnessed the impossible. "And that concludes the matches for the day. Please leave the Colosseum IN A CALM AND ORDERLY FASHION!" Oobleck's shouting snaps Akira and Patrick out of their shock, and everyone in the audience does as Oobleck orders.

As the audience leave, Team CPER meets up with each other. Patrick and Akira join up with them. "That was too close! You had us all worried for a moment there." Rayla says. Earnest speaks and Rayla translates: "'I agree, we all thought she was gonna knock you into last week.'"

"I must admit, I didn't know you had it in you to resist her charms." Akira says.

"Neither did I?" Peter turns his attention to Clawdia. "But then I remembered something Clawdia told me during training, the next thing I knew I snapped out of it. But I had to keep up the act to throw her off guard."

"Wow, so there really is a brain instead that thick skull of yours." Patrick says.

"That's harsh, man." Peter says.

"Regardless of Pet-rick's comment no matter how true it is, I am proud of mew, Peter." Clawdia gives Peter a hug. "I think mew have finally taken the first step into breaking your Purr-vert phase."

"Wouldn't count on it." Patrick says, under his breath.

"Come on, let us celebrate." Rayla says.

They begin leaving the Colosseum. They catch up with the rest of the audience. Patrick looks around. As he does, he suddenly freezes once he spotted something, or someone, unexpected. He catches a glimpse of a woman behind, one with short brown hair and light-brown skin, a white blouse under a brown vest with an amber shoulder pad on her right shoulder.

"Wha...Who...?" Patrick rubs his eyes and then looks again, only to see that the woman is now gone.

"Master Patrick?" Patrick is startled by Rayla's call. "Is something wrong?"

"I..." Patrick looks back to where he had seen the girl and sees that she still isn't there. "I...It was nothing." Team CPER and Akira are uncertain about Patrick, but then dismiss it and continue moving on. Even after seeing the realization, Patrick still can't dismiss who it was he saw.

"Amber..."