A/N: I have been occupied with many things, including WOW Dragonflight Release. Really hate the stupid Mythic+ IO Rating system, people fail to see it's a worthless system to relay on. Anywho, The Vytal Festival continues and Teams PASM and CPER are having the time of their lives. Patrick, on the other hand, had an unexpected turn of events. He believes he saw the last person he'd expect to see in a public crowd. Is it possible that he really saw her, or was it just an illusion? Let us find out.
Chapter 42: The Vytal Festival Part II - Doubles Round.
The Stadium is loud as the air fills with the roars of screaming adoring fans as well as loud pop music, and the idol group, SPiKA, singing and dancing to their hearts' content. The stage lights up in all kinds of colors and lights.
It is sunset and SPiKA is doing a performance to close off the day of the festival. Even after all the energy Selena had burned from the tournament and other festive events, she is still packing enough like a fully charged battery.
At the end of the final song, SPiKA waves to their fans. "Thank you, everyone! You have been a wonderful audience!" Selena shouts. "We can't wait to sing for you all once again the next day. Good night to you all!"
The crowd cheers to their loudest as SPiKA leaves the stage.
As the audience clears up, the idols are in their dressing up, unwinding while waiting for the area to clear.
Kayla lays flat on the couch letting out an exhausting sign. "Oh boy. That was exhausting."
"It did feel like the concert lasted longer than we planned." Isabela says.
"You two need to focus your energy. You were lacking modification to put up your full potential on stage." Amanda says.
"Oh, don't be too hard on them, Amanda. They did a fine job. And what matters most is our fans loved our show." Paige says. Amanda scoffs as she dismisses Paige's comment.
Kayla sits up and turns her attention to Selena. "What I want to know is how you still have enough energy. You fought in the Colosseum tournament and yet you were still fully charged. What's your secret, Selena?"
"No secret. Just lucky I guess?" Selena says.
"Even I don't buy that." Amanda comments.
As the idols are settling in, there's a knock on the door, then a security guard slightly opens the door to stick his head in. "Pardon me, mistresses, but there are people who claim to know you, they claim they know a 'Sherry Farron'."
"That's for me, send them in." Selena says.
The security responds with a silent nod. When he retracts his head from the door, he then fully opens the door, allowing Marlene and Patrick to come in. Paige claps her hands together. "Oh, Patrick, it's nice to see you again." She turns her attention to Marlene. "Perhaps this is a fellow teammate of yours and Selena's?"
Marlene is speechless as she tries to speak but only unintelligent gibberish escapes. Patrick doesn't say anything, just shook his head while Selena nervously laughs. "Marlene is a big fan of idols." Selena turns her attention to Patrick. "Where's Akira?"
"Kendo Matches. By now, she's probably on the third round." Patrick says.
"That's good. I can at least make it before the finals." Selena says.
Patrick has taken noticed that Amanda is glaring right at him. "So, the I-Don't-Care pretender shows himself again."
"Yeah, nice to see you too, Amanda." Patrick says, sarcastically as he returns his glare. The two of them stare off at each other until it eventually became a lightning glare.
Kayla nervously laughs as he fans her fan at herself. "My goodness, did it suddenly get very hot in here."
Marlene takes notice of the intensity between the two and then leans toward Selena. "What's up with Patrick and Amanda?" Marlene whispers.
"They've...got a bit of a love-hate relationship," Selena says, nervously. "Amanda believes that Patrick is really another fanboy while thinking his not caring attitude is just an act, then there's this one time she mistook him for Peter."
"That explains why he has it out on her." Marlene says.
"We can hear you, you know." Patrick and Amanda shout in unison.
As time goes on, Marlene enjoys having a conversation with Kayla and Isabela, meanwhile, Paige and Selena are trying to keep Patrick and Amanda from being at each other's throats. Even though they were chatting up a storm with their fan, Kayla and Isabela can hardly relax with the way Patrick and Amanda are behaving. Amanda finds them gullible letting their guard down with a crazed fan and a "pretender" present, even though they are close friends of Selena.
Finally, Selena decided it was enough. Selena tells Patrick and Marlene that it's time to meet up with Akira. Selena bids farewell to her Idol Group, who wishes the best of luck for Selena, then starts heading out.
"Honestly, Patrick, I wish you and Amanda would get along." Selena says.
"She started it." Patrick says.
"Look, I can understand why you're upset. She was wrong to judge you like that back at the hotel, but sometimes, you just need to be the bigger person and-" Selena's words become muffled as Patrick looks around, and then becomes shocked. He again sees the back of a familiar person. Patrick exhales out of breath as he stares at the familiar woman, until said woman finally turns around, slowly, revealing her face with a smile.
Patrick cannot believe what he is seeing. His own sister, Amber, in the flesh. He can't help but look back to when he saw her, inside a medical capsule, fallen into a deep coma. Seeing her like this as if nothing ever happened is pretty hard to swallow.
"Patrick!" Selena's voice snaps Patrick back into reality. "Are you okay?"
"Uh, yea. I was just..." Patrick looks back to where Amber was, but sees nothing. Patrick doesn't say anything. His sister was there one second, but gone the next.
"Is something wrong? You looked like you were spaced out." Marlene says.
"I...I thought I saw something." Patrick puts a hand on his head. "I might have imagined it or something."
Patrick continues moving on. Marlene and Selena, however, stay behind, looking at Patrick with concern. They exchange looks with each other, then follows him. "You've had a long day with the tournament and now putting up with Amanda. You're probably just tired." Selena suggests.
"Maybe you're right." Patrick says.
After the Kendo match, which Akira and her team won, Team PASM went to celebrate and then turned in for the night. The girls are soundly asleep, while Patrick is still wide awake in bed. He just can't turn his mind off thinking about what he saw. There's no mistaking it, it was defiantly Amber he was seeing, yet the way she suddenly disappeared after Selena snapped him out of his trance.
It was like she both was and wasn't there. Patrick doesn't know what to believe.
The next day, Patrick woke up late, but still feeling tired. Selena and the others suggested he should get some rest, but Patrick denied it, claiming he was fine but probably just needed to walk it off. Patrick keeps his scenes on alert. He hasn't seen Amber all day, and he actually feels relieved. He still can't understand how this is happening, but he needs to keep his focus elsewhere.
The Amity tournament.
Patrick and Akira are preparing themselves for their match. They are up next after this round. Akira sees Patrick is still fighting the exhaustion he feels. "Patrick, are you sure you're still up for this? You still look tired."
"I told you, I'm fine." Patrick shakes his head and then stands. "A little combat adrenaline is probably what I'll need." Akira is still uncertain about it, but she just goes with it.
With the first match over, it is now Patrick and Akira's turn to battle. They arrive at the arena where they will have to face their opponents: Marrow and Harriet of Team HMSR. The crowd cheers for both teams. Harriet has her eyes set on her opponents, head to toe. "So you two are our challengers. I hope you two are as good as you were in the Team Rounds."
"Underestimating me is a mistake you'll regret making, girl." Patrick says.
Harriet chuckles with a smile. "Cocky. I like you already."
Akira and Marrow face each other. Planting her right fist on her left shoulder, Akira gives her opponent a bow. "It will be an honor to face a formidable opponent."
Marrow feels awkward. "Uh...Right back at yea?"
The Field Randomizer goes off. Instead of half and half, it's now dividing the field into quarters. Forest, Volcanic, Ruins, and Desert. Both teams position and ready themselves for battle as the countdown begins.
"3...2...1...GO!"
In an instant, Harriet superspeeds right between Patrick and Akira, staggering them both for a moment. Patrick sets his focus on where Harriet went to. "Oh, she's mine!" He activates his bracers with Lightning Dust and chases after her in super speed.
Akira remains behind as she watches Patrick going after Harriet. Just as Akira turns to face Marrow, Marrow's weapon comes flying at her and Akira barely manages to dodge it in time. Marrow throws a serious glare at Akira as he reaches out his hand to grab his returning weapon.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent." Marrow says.
Akira doesn't say anything. She only lets her sword speak for her as she draws it out and charges toward Marrow.
Marina and Oobleck announce the events happening down in the arena, though they admit that they are having trouble trying to get a visual on Patrick and Harriet due to their super speed. The way those two fight is that they are invisible to all the eyes, but for a brief moment they become visible and reveal that they are exchanging blows with each other. Even on the monitor that shows their Aura, it only reveals that they are slowly depleting.
"Patrick and Harriet are really putting on a show for us, even though we cannot see it." Marina turns to Oobleck. "What are your thoughts, Professor Oobleck?"
"It is indeed a match that can leave you in the suspense. They are both equally matched in terms of speed. Young Aki is certainly serious when it comes to combat, however, Miss Bree is one of Atlas's top students. It is possible she'll have the advantage. Let's watch and see what happens."
Patrick and Harriet go on with their battle, meanwhile, Marrow is throwing his weapon at Akira, who is deflecting the weapon when it comes at her. Akira comes close to Marrow, and her sword becomes loaded with Ice Dust. "Fifth Sword Form: Frostbite!" Akira closes in to strike, but Marrow manages to dodge her attack on time. Marrow lands on his feet and one hand and then uses his free hand to catch his returning weapon.
Akira loads her weapon with Earth Dust. "Fourth Sword Form:" Akira raises her weapon.
Marrow acts fast. He points at Akira, shouting "STAY!" Akira makes a slight movement just before her body freezes in place. Marrow smirks as he sets his weapon to unleash multiple miniature versions of his weapon. In a single swing, all of the boomerangs launch and starts flying. Each of them strikes at the frozen Akira. Even immovable, she still lets out sounds of groan escapes from her.
"Good heavens. Akira appears to be in trouble. Marrow has her trapped within his Freeze Semblance and is depleting her Aura." Marina says.
"Unless she finds a way to break free or Young Aki assists her, Miss Rhysenshi is going to be down for the count." Professor Oobleck says.
Patrick catches on to what is going on. He suddenly stops his fast running to see the situation Akira's in, then looks at the large board to see her Aura level is slowly depleting. Patrick positions his blades to strike and begins charging at Marrow. He begins to deliver the blow but is shortly interrupted by Harriet's strikes at him from the front.
Harriet's blow knocks Patrick back. Patrick quickly gets back on his feet, having a stare-down with Harriet. "Good luck trying to save your friend." Harriet says, following with readying her next attack and then charging at great speed. Patrick positions himself in a defensive stance. He does his best to block and dodge the incoming blows, but Harriet's speed is too great for him to make perfect timing.
Akira's Aura falls below 70%. When seeing that, Patrick has had enough of Harriet. He then loads Ice Dust into his left brace. Patrick sees Harriet coming at him. He then stomps real hard with his left leg, unleashing a wave of ice that freezes the ground. Once Harriet runs on the ice, she starts slipping. Harriet tries to regain control but couldn't. Patrick takes out an Earth Dust Crystal. He crushes the crystal in his right hand, encasing his arm into an earth fist. Once Harriet is close, Patrick slams his earth fist onto Harriet, right in the stomach. Harriet is knocked back until she slams into a tree in the forest field.
With Harriet out of the way, Patrick shifts his weapon into a bow, loads it with three arrows at once, and fires at Marrow. The arrows hit Marrow, disrupting his concentration. The moment that breaks, Akira breaks free from his Freeze. While Akira is recovering from her freeze state, Patrick chases after Marrow. Marrow sees Patrick coming as he shifts his weapon into a rifle and fires. Patrick dodges the incoming bullets as he runs. Once he reaches Marrow, he delivers several strikes with his blades. Marrow takes all the hits, but one of them he manages to block with his weapon. Patrick then delivers a powerful final blow that knocks Marrow back. Marrow lands in the volcanic area. Marrow gets back on his feet. He then suddenly becomes confused once he feels heat rising. He looks down and sees he's standing on a crater, and just when he realizes what's about to happen, it's too late.
The crater bursts, knocking out the rest of Marrow's Aura.
"Ladies and Gentleman, Marrow Amin is out." Marina says.
Patrick cracks his neck as the audience cheers. As the roar of the crowd fills the air, Patrick looks around among them, searching for Selena and Marlene. As he looks, he spotted something in the crowd. After a brief moment, he freezes and then looks back at what he saw.
Even though he sees it, he still cannot believe it. Amber is among that crowd. Legs crossed. Clapping with a smile on her face. The roar of the crowd mutes to his ears as he helplessly stares at his sister with shock. He hears voices echoing inside his head. Familiar voices.
'Don't leave me. Please.' The young Patrick says, begging.
'Don't cry, Patrick. I promise I will return.' Amber says.
'Don't you want to hear what happened to Amber?' Ozpin asks in an echo.
'When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host.' Ironwood says.
'And what about Amber? How did she handle all of this?' Patrick asks.
'Now ask yourself this: What would she have done if she were in your place?' Qrow asks.
Amber is still smiling even after she ends her clipping, then offers Patrick a wink.
"I...I don't...understand." Patrick says, quietly.
A voice calls out, but it's too muffled to make out. It grows louder trying to pierce the deafness. Only one made it clear to understand: "Look out!"
But Patrick didn't respond. Instead, he takes on a fierce punch on the side of his face. Harriet's blow sends Patrick flying until he falls out of the arena. Everyone's caught by surprise to see this happen, even Marina.
"Oh, that has got to hurt." Oobleck says. "It would seem that Young Aki is down. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got ourselves another one-on-one match."
Marina says nothing, only looking to where Patrick was last seen before falling off the arena. She doesn't know him much, but she can still tell something was off about him. Akira is still in shock from what happened. She was shouting out to Patrick to watch out but he was still deaf to her calls. And now he's knocked out. Akira helplessly stares at Harriet, who is positioning herself to make to next strike.
"Looks like it's just you and me, Faunus. Your move." Harriet says.
Akira holds her blade out. She tries to think of a move, but she knows what Harriet's capable of: Her Speed and the power of her exosuit arms. Akira turns her eyes over to the screen. Harriet's Aura level is higher than hers. Akira thinks carefully about every predictable tactic route and they would all lead to Harriet overpowering her.
'Harriet's too powerful and quick. There's no way I can defeat her...' Akira then realizes something. 'Unless...' Akira shakes her head. 'No, I can't use it on a living human. Although.' Akira thinks for a moment. Her Aura Level is only below 60%. 'I can probably hold back if I used only a certain amount. Can't go below 15% anyway.'
"What's the matter? Getting cold feet?" Harriet asks.
Akira doesn't say anything. Instead, she just stands up straight as she sheathes her katana. This leads everyone confused. "What is this? Ms. Rhysenshi doesn't matter to be fighting. Could she be surrendering?"
Akira takes deep, slow breaths, as she moves her body in place in slow movement. Seeing this confuses everyone. Even Selena and Marlene can't take their eyes off of her.
"What is she doing?" Selena asks.
"I think it's Tai Chi." Marlene says.
Harriet does nothing as well, only watches her opponent. As time goes on, Akira's Aura begins to glow with Chi Energy. Seeing this astonishes the audience. Even Marina and Oobleck are speechless. Once Akira glows to her brightest, she finishes her movement by standing with her legs straight and together and with her palms folded in front of her.
"Origin Sword Form!"
Akira then spreads her legs, knees bent, all while grabbing the hilt of her blade. Akira remains still in this position. Then, her Chi transfers from her body to the sword, and in doing so her Aura level begins to deplete, rapidly, until it comes to a stop at 20%.
Everyone's on their feet, everyone muttering about what Akira is doing. Even Marina and Oobleck are speechless with confusion. Akira remains frozen in her position. Eyes closed, taking deep slow breaths.
Harriet gets serious. "If you think you'll stop me with whatever this attack method you are doing is, you're mistaken!"
Harriet begins charging up, both her Mech Arms and her Semblance. Soon, her body is coated in electricity, and her mech arms are burning red. As Harriet is charging up, Akira maintains her focus. As she slowly breathes, she can feel the world around her slowing down. 'Concentrate...' Harriet stares down at Akira with a lightning glare. She shouts as loud as her lungs can manage and bolts towards Akira, fist drawn back to strike.
Harriet comes in close at her fastest, and that's when Akira scenes it and shouts as her eyes shot open with a fierce glare. "ZANTETSUKEN!"
SLASH!
In a single instant, Akira draws out her sword with an instant, single strike. And from that blow, there was a bright flash that only lasted half a second, and the air is filled with cherry blossoms. The crowd is silent, for Akira and Harriet are at a standstill, Harriet has her fist out and is standing past Akira, and Akira with her blade still drawn out and wide.
After what felt like a too-long period of suspense stillness, something finally happened. Harriet's mech-arms fall apart and fall to the ground, then Harriet's Aura dissolves, and then Harriet collapses.
Even seeing the victor and the defeated, the crowd is still silent with shock, even Marlene and Selena are speechless.
"Ladies and Gentleman. I am speechless at what just happened, but I can defiantly say that Team PASM has won and is now moving to the finals!" Oobleck announces.
The crowd cheers with excitement. Selena and Marlene are the ones who cheered the hardest. Patrick, who remains on the ground, doesn't not celebrate, for he is still speechless at the sight of Amber he had seen in the arena.
All he could say is, "How is this possible?"