Note: Okay, I'm delaying the fight a chapter longer, so enjoy one extra chapter with JNPR and CFVY. Once this side arc is over, we're going back to Team RWBY, so look forward to that. Making steady progress, and happy to keep uploading every weekend. Thanks for your support. Enjoy.
Coco raced to the infirmary, her scarf flying behind her like a flag, and Pyrrha and Jaune were in hot pursuit. Every second away from their teammates was a second longer their imaginations could conjure the worst. The faded, phoned screams of pain and terror still rang fresh in their thoughts. When they grew closer, they noticed a small rail of blood just outside the infirmary door. Coco's blood boiled.
The Team CFVY leader burst into the room first, storming past the receptionist, following the trail of blood to private rooms down the hall. The serene white color of the walls had turned sour, and Coco forced her way past a nurse into the first open room she saw. Her teammates were there, discarded around like used furniture.
Fox had gotten off the easiest—his only wound was a large bump on his head, the result of one of the Garden statues unceremoniously falling on him. He arrived at the tail end of the fight, having scurried away to find a restroom. He pointed toward the others, both less fortunate.
Yatsuhashi lay on one of the beds, too small for his seven-foot frame, his calves dangling off the metal bar on the end. Three of his ribs were broken, and wrapped tightly in bandages. More victims of flying statues. His right shoulder was dislocated from a similar cause. His shaved head was covered in small pecks and scratches, though he had mostly cleaned up well, lying in a meditative silence. Coco's eyes drifted away from him quickly to the worst among them.
It was Velvet's blood that was scattered on the floor. She sat on the edge of Yatsu's bed, pressing a light cloth to her left eye that was slowly becoming a stained, dark red. Her hand and arm were tightly bandaged as well; her winter coat, now torn and tattered, had been discarded on a chair in the corner. Coco ran up to Velvet and kneeled by her side, taking her other hand into hers. Now up close, she could see further injuries; minor scratches and tears all along her arms and back, clumps of her hair missing, and a real nasty cut along the top of her ear. Even then, Velvet smiled when she saw her.
"Oh my god… Velvet…"
"I'm fine," Velvet said weakly. "It looks a lot worse than it is."
Coco didn't believe that for a second. "What happened?"
"An ambush," Fox explained. "Team VLNC in action. I'm fine, too, by the way. Thanks for asking."
"It was Luci Wyld. The animal talker," Velvet said further. "Nora and I were alone, and then this swarm of owls attacked us. I didn't want to hurt them, and they went right at my face. I was trying to swat them away when one of their talons nicked the artery in the back of my hand. That bled a lot more than I thought it would."
"Screw your hand," Coco said desperately. "Your eye."
Velvet sighed. "Oh, this? They said it's going to be all right. One of them tried to bite it out. He… got pretty close."
Velvet removed the cloth from her eye. Nevan's warning had been wrong. Her eyeball was still attached—or at least, if it had been popped out, someone had shoved it back into place. The entire area around Velvet's eye had swollen shut, and a welt had formed underneath the size of several golf balls. The area had turned a deep purple but had mostly sealed shut. There was a notable gash on the side of her eye, just next to the bridge of her nose, that was still bleeding freely. There was, thankfully, nothing life-threatening, and with enough Aura and patience, Velvet would make a full recovery. That did nothing to soothe Coco's fury.
"Those assholes," Coco hissed. "They'll pay for this."
"Coco, it's not—"
"It's such bullshit. Why did we have to get dragged into this?"
While Coco monitored her team, Jaune and Pyrrha entered the adjacent room, where Ren and Nora were recovering. Upon seeing them, Jaune gasped, and Pyrrha recoiled in horror. Nora was lying on the bed, her sports bra and abdomen showing—a chunk had been taken out from her side, about three inches across and one deep, directly above her hip. The wound had been stitched roughly, dark red and jagged, but it wasn't actively bleeding. Ren sat by Nora's side, seemingly no worse for wear. He hovered his hands over the wound, charging Nora's Aura, which glowed faintly beneath her skin. There were other scratches across her torso, but they seemed trivial. Nora herself didn't mind at all. She glanced up, saw her teammates, and sighed.
"Hey, guys. What's going on?"
Jaune raced forward, joining Ren's side. He tried to keep his eyes focused on her face, both for modesty and to avoid looking at the disgusting gash.
"Nora, are you okay?"
"Well, you know… not really," Nora admitted. "Days like these, I wish I wasn't so ripped. I could have used some extra fat down there—ahh!" She hissed in pain.
"Don't talk, Nora" Jaune said worriedly.
"No, let her talk," Ren informed him. "Nora uses humor to deflect from difficult situations. It makes her feel better."
Nora smiled. "Awwww, you know me so well…" She clenched her fist tightly as another burst of pain shot through her, and she pressed her head firmly against the pillow. "Can someone ask the nurse for more painkillers? Please?"
"Uh, yeah! Right on it!" Jaune hurried back out the door, running past Pyrrha who hovered silently by the entranceway. She stood still as a statue, seeing the consequences of her inaction. Nora and Ren noticed her but didn't say anything, and she didn't know why. Were they mad at her? Did they blame her? How could they have known they were targeted because of her? That wasn't fair. None of this was fair.
"Pyrrha?"
Nora's voice cut through her confusion. "Y-Yes?"
"Thanks for… stopping by…"
There was some emotion in those words that Pyrrha couldn't identify. It was too subtle for her brain to pick up, so she took the words at face value.
"Of course. What... what happened to you?"
"Team JJWL ambushed us," Ren explained. "They summoned a swarm of birds at Velvet and Nora. Nevan Jupitarian hooked Nora when she was helping Velvet. I couldn't make it there in time—they sent the entire garden collapsing in on us. When she tried to pull away… this happened."
Pyrrha bowed her head in disgrace. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault. Vivian Jupitarian came to my room. She requested a Challenge by the Honors against JNPR. When I refused…"
"Challenge by the Honors?" Nora was taken aback. "Why? What problem does she have with us?"
Pyrrha just shook her head. "I don't know. She said she was… bored."
"Dude, that's messed up," Nora groaned. "It's not your fault though. You shouldn't have had to do that."
"A Challenge by the Honors?" Ren thought aloud. "For when?"
"A few days from now," Pyrrha explained. "We didn't have a choice. We got scared."
Ren shook his head. "Nora's not gonna be fully healed by then. Even with my Aura Boost, she should have at least a week."
"Eh, I'll manage," Nora said bluntly. Ren fought back.
"Nora, no way."
"What? Why not?" Nora tried sitting up instinctively, but the pain forced her back down.
"That's why," Ren stated. "Pyrrha, can you retract the Challenge?"
"I don't… I don't know if that's a good idea," Pyrrha explained. "After what they did to you… and CFVY is going to be joining us. JJWL wants to fight us together."
Nora smirked through her suffering. "Really? That's fine then. I can totally help out."
"Nora…"
"A two-on-one? Vivian won't know what hit her. And honestly, wouldn't mind firing a few grenades in that lady's face. Vivian's crazy. I mean, in more ways than one. They broke a ton of Atlas property. How does she think she'll get away with that?"
Pyrrha didn't have a reasonable explanation for that. Team JJWL's flagrant violation of Atlas rules disturbed her, and it was just one more anchor that weighed down her thoughts. The stench of the hospital room was getting to her, the sight of Nora's dried blood turned her stomach in knots, and under a month of mental strain, the full reality of her situation was finally getting to her. She was going to have to fight someone. Her teammates were depending on her.
Oh, God.
She heard hurried footsteps behind her and expected to find Jaune having returned with supplies. However, she instead saw Coco charging into their room, dismissing Nora's injury, and immediately turned her attention to Pyrrha.
"Hey. You. Listen," she said firmly, sticking a pointed finger in Pyrrha's face. "Those pieces of shit are going to pay for this, and I can't have your team getting in the way of that with you all distracted and shit. When we fight them, I want you to follow my lead and do everything I tell you to do, got it?"
"But I—"
"No, I'm dead fucking serious," Coco seethed. "You haven't fought them before. We have. We're the older team, and I'm taking charge of this. I need everyone to be on the same page, and the easiest way to do that is if you guys do what you are told when you're told to do it. I don't want to argue about this."
Pyrrha nervously clasped her hands by her waist. She had trained for this but never had to directly take orders from another one of her classmates. She had never even seen a Team CFVY fight before. She didn't know what strategies they employed, or what their Semblances were—if she had learned them, that knowledge had been lost in her clouded thoughts.
"We should… we should practice together," Pyrrha suggested. "That would be a good idea."
"Practice?" Coco said, baffled. "My team can barely walk. We'll be lucky if we're ready for the Challenge at all. Just… look, I'll text you footage of the last match we had and our game plan. Memorize it and just… be prepared to not clog the field too much. You can do that, right?"
She didn't wait for an answer. She turned around and marched right back through the door to check on her team. Pyrrha wanted to call after her, and apologize for dragging her into this mess, but the words became stuck in her throat. As Coco left, Jaune brushed past her, carrying a bottle of medication. He had to jump out of the way to avoid getting trampled. When he entered the room, Pyrrha looked away from him in shame. The anchor had gotten heavier.
Nora held out her palm. "Pills. Please."
The official Beacon Academy website had numerous features to help Huntsmen, Huntsmen students, and the general public learn more about their operations. One of the more helpful—or invasive, depending on who was asked—resources was the Student Profile section. Each of the one hundred and sixty trainees at Beacon was given a small breakdown of their past, their team, their skills, their Semblances, weapons, likes, and interests. It was a treasure trove of information, and on the night before her battle against Team JJWL, Pyrrha printed out these profiles and used them as a basis to take notes. She should have started several days earlier, but it was only now that she summoned the mental energy to study—not that she had ever needed it in the past.
Coco had provided her own team's student profiles, as well as the raw footage from her initial fight against Team JJWL the previous year. After watching the fight three times, carefully studying the profiles, and adding her own personal research to the page, Pyrrha had amassed the following notes by midnight:
Vivian Jupitarian
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: June 5th, 81 AC
Grade: Senior
Team Ranking: One
Weapon: "Vindicator"—long, dual cattle prod with an electricity amplification device built into its center. Protrusions two and a half feet in length, one in width. Total reach: four feet. Directly channels Vivian's Semblance and focuses energy into a single point.
Semblance: Thunderbolt—capable of generating up to ten thousand volts of electricity. Relatively low electric current. Force of blast strong, but often more painful than deadly. Range: seemingly infinite. Spread: seemingly infinite.
Likes: Long walks on the beach
Overall strengths: Vivian is the perfect combination of speed and strength. Despite an oversized frame, she is capable of both swift movement on her feet and a surprising level of agility. Flexibility is very high. Strength is moderately high, but a significant threat when combined with Vindicator. Range is the biggest concern; with spread of lightning, an opponent is under constant threat at distances greater than usual. No bullet falloff must be considered or lack of accuracy. At mid-range, use of Vindicator still provides Vivian with a large power and reach advantage. She is slippery, for lack of a better term. Personality is aggressive and merciless; will not hesitate to exploit wounded or weak opponents. Lacks self-preservation instinct; will dive head first into combat over safer strategies.
Overall weaknesses: As previously noted, Vivian has a tendency to engage in riskier strategies. Can be theoretically exploited. While her reach is vast, her body type may make her vulnerable to very short-range attacks. It will be difficult for her to guard against those right up against her. Largest risk to Vivian: Nora Valkyrie. Besting her in both a Semblance match-up and pure strength, Nora would be able to effectively close the distance and out-muscle her. Unknown if Nora would be able to successfully land a hit. If she can, it would likely be highly effective. Vivian is likely aware of this match-up, and will seek to avoid it at all costs. Nora is currently injured, and her power might be mitigated. Caution needed before making a move.
Overall threat: very high.
Nevan Jupitarian
Date of Birth: April 28th, 82 AC
Sex:
Grade: Senior
Team Ranking: One
Weapon: "Chains of Hell"—retractable, hooked chains extended from a mount on either wrist. Three chains per wrist, six in total. Unknown propulsion mechanism. Maximum range of chains: twenty-two feet. Hooks sharply acute; capable of ensnaring and tearing.
Semblance: "My Other Friends"—summons transparent, flaming skulls that roam freely around the battlefield. Skull size: a foot and a half length and width. Time to summon: one point two seconds. Length of summon: seemingly infinite. Number of skulls able to be summoned simultaneously: seemingly infinite, though there is likely a physical limit. Note: skulls can be destroyed by usual means.
Likes: Interior decorating, chess, thrash music
Overall strengths: The secret weapon of Team JJWL, arguably more dangerous than Vivian. Combination of chains and skulls makes for a varied, overwhelming, and chaotic attack. Extremely long-ranged fighter, capable of covering almost all conceivable angles of attack. Both tearing and trapping are legitimate threats when facing him. Chain movements are often unpredictable and can be difficult to guard against. Chains can be looped together to form a strong defensive web with skulls. Very hard to penetrate. Skulls have tendency to fly directly into opponents, causing blunt trauma and small burns. Nevan is known as Team JJWL's strategist. Very clever. Likely has several contingencies. Altogether, is both highly effective in offensive and defensive capabilities against a wide variety of opponents.
Overall weakness: Like Vivian, their weapon style makes it difficult for them to fight at very close ranges. Though they attack in large numbers, both skulls and chains can easily be deflected with heavy weapons or armor. Fight may devolve into war of attrition, with both sides seeking openings; Nevan has the advantage in this regard. If a means can be found to weave through defenses, it's unknown what means they have to defend themselves.
Overall threat: very high.
Luci Wyld
Date of Birth: December 4th, 81 AC
Sex: Female
Grade: Senior
Team Ranking: One
Weapon: "The Full Moon Rises"—dual short swords that can combine to form a repeating crossbow. Luci will often carry different types of ammunition in quivers on her back and waist.
Semblance: Animal communication—self-explanatory
Likes: Animals, botany
Overall strengths: The weakest member of Team JJWL in a vacuum, though still highly capable. Like her teammates, Luci's weapon has a ranged form that allows her substantial field control and zoning abilities, allowing her to take out opponents from a distance. Different types of ammunition allow her to adapt a variety of strategies, and coupled with her teammates, Team JJWL utilizes an extraordinarily effective ranged game. She is notably precise, with landing an average of eighty-three percent of shots fired in her last six matchups. Unlike her teammates, Luci also excels in rushdown fighting and extreme close range due to her swords. Rapid switching between the two fighting styles allows her significant flexibility. A usual strategy is to use her crossbow to close the distance to her opponents and then strike with her swords before they can recover. A careful, cautious fighter. Her Semblance is varied and powerful, allowing her to communicate with and control any animal.
Overall weakness: While her Semblance is powerful, school regulations forbid the use of outside partners during Challenges. As such, she is unable to utilize her Semblance in combat. While he is strong up close and at a distance, she struggles at mid-ranged attacks, and forcing her into situations in which she is effective with neither of her weapons is an optimal strategy. She is also the physically weakest among her teammates and should be easiest to take down. If she attempts to rush her opponents, there is a strong opportunity to counter her.
Overall threat: high.
Calaheart Luvcano
Date of Birth: November 12th, 80 AC
Sex: Female
Grade: Senior
Team Rank: One
Weapon: Dual sledgehammers with hidden shotgun compartment. Gun barrel is hidden within the hammer's head.
Semblance: Earth manipulation—can alter the shape of any stone, metal, or wood to her liking. Material can be shaped by striking it or surrounding environment. Controlled using unknown means.
Likes: going out to eat, exercise, modern art
Overall strengths: Team JJWL's powerhouse. Incredibly strong. Significant build. Difficult to move. Brute strength is unmatched by any student within Atlas or Beacon. Surprisingly quick for her size as well, allowing her to easily defend against attacks. Any direct hit from her weapons is guaranteed to leave significant damage. Shotguns within hammers extend range beyond the expected amount, allowing her to deal surprise damage to an ignorant opponent. Inherent tank, the bedrock of the Team's formation. However, her greatest ability lies within her Semblance. Control over the surrounding battlefield allows her to shape the terrain of battle into any form she desires. Possibilities are limitless. She can trap opponents in a small field in which they can be easily targeted, build impenetrable fortresses, and shift the ground from beneath an opposing team's feet. Most Huntsmen weapons are unequipped to penetrate significant defenses of thick metal, and most Huntsmen strategies cannot account for rapidly shifting terrain. Though she primarily is a support and defensive player, the limitless capabilities of her Semblance make her difficult to strategize against.
Overall weakness: Unlike all other members of Team JJWL, Calaheart essentially has no ranged capabilities. While she can exert control over any substance, it must be within fifteen feet for her to manipulate; however, once she exerts control, she can continue controlling it over any distance. She has the least stamina out of her teammates, a byproduct of her heavy weapons and Semblance requiring constant bold movements. She is best dealt with from afar. Her large frame makes her an easy target. Recommended solution: gun.
Overall threat: very high
Breakdown of initial CFVY-JJWL Challenge
Date: October 30th, 100 AC
Fight length: Five minutes, forty nine-seconds
Notes: Both Team CFVY and Team JJWL utilize highly offensive, ranged combat. Both attempt to overwhelm their opponents with an unrelenting burst of firepower. Unlike Team JJWL, Team CFVY lacks almost any strong defensive techniques. Yatsuhashi is the only team member who attempts to hold back a line, usually guarding Coco as she fires from her mini-gun. Velvet and Fox both ambush from varying angles, drawing their opponents out of cover into Coco's line of fire. Coco's machine gun is the primary source of damage for CFVY; without her, their strategy falls apart.
At the beginning of the fight, Team JJWL immediately begins attacking at range with their collective abilities. The chaos prevents Coco from deploying her machine gun. Yatsu becomes injured in his attempt to defend her. Without defensive weapons, Fox and Velvet are forced to evade near the back of the arena.
At one minute into the fight, Coco finally deploys her machine gun, but Team JJWL has marched halfway across the field, boxing CFVY near the back. Fox and Velvet are unable to advance under the constant assault. Calaheart manipulates the terrain in front of them to act as a protective barrier. A brief stalemate occurs.
At two and a half minutes, Nevan's chain loop around the barrier and pull an unexpecting Coco behind their cover. While there, Vivian attacks her. It is during this encounter that Coco claims her ribs and nose were broken.
At three minutes and twelve seconds, Coco is ruled knocked out by the referee.
At three minutes and thirty seconds, Yatsuhasi is knocked out of the ring by the moving terrain.
From that point until the end of the fight, Velvet and Fox are toyed with by Team JJWL. Velvet takes an arrow to the thigh, grounding her at five minutes thirty seconds. She is subsequently knocked out of the ring by Nevan's chains.
Five minutes forty-six seconds: Fox is struck by lightning. He was knocked unconscious three seconds later.
The fight ends without Team JJWL taking a hit.
Pyrrha looked away from her notes. She checked her Scroll. The hour was far too late, and she felt like she had barely written anything. In her earlier tournament days, she would write up to twenty pages of notes on each opponent she faced. She attributed her success to that knowledge. She pushed the handful of papers to her side, and stared at the screen before her, playing the last frames of JJWL's victory. Coco's bloody body was discarded in the center of the arena, her teammates displaced around her. Team JJWL was celebrating, hugging each other. Vivian, however, was staring straight at the camera. Grinning. Pyrrha felt as if she could see through her.
She put away the screens, laid down in her bed, and closed her eyes. She didn't sleep for hours.